Question

let me ask the question first.

Where is the correct place to call a function that load a list of values to be display on a view?

I create a controller like this

public ActionResult Create()
{
    SeaModel newSea = new SeaModel();

    return View("Season/CreateSea", newSea);
}

//I not quite sure if this should go here or in another place
partial class seaDataContext
{
    public List<string> getSeaSettings()
    {
        var seaSettings = from p in settings
                          where p.setting == "periods"
                          select p.value;

        return seaSettings.ToList<string>();                              
    }
}

The model is like

public class SeaModel
{
    [Required(ErrorMessage="*")]
    [Display(Name = "Period Name")]
    public string periods { get; set; }    
}

Which create a view like

  @using (Html.BeginForm()) {
        @Html.ValidationSummary(true, "Please correct the following errors.")

        <fieldset>
            <legend>Fields</legend>

            <div class="editor-label">
                @Html.LabelFor(model => model.periods)
            </div>
            <div class="editor-field">
                @Html.Select(model => model.periods, ****My doubt comes here****)
                @Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.periods)
            </div>

            <p>
                <input type="submit" value="Create" />
            </p>
        </fieldset>

    }

so, How and where do I pass the return of getSeaSettings() to the view?

Thanks

Answer 1

best practice is to make a Selectlist in your Model for this dropdown.

however you also can use the more easy option: using ViewData

 public ActionResult Create()
 {
     SeaModel newSea = new SeaModel();

     ViewData["myDropDown"] = new SelectList(listOfObjects, "valueOfTheObjectLikeID", "NameYouWantToShowInDropdown");

     return View("Season/CreateSea", newSea);
 }

then:

@Html.Select(model => model.periods, ViewData["myDropDown"] as SelectList)

dont forget in your [HttpPost] method to also fill in the viewdata if you’r validation fails, so the dropdown can be rebuilt.