Question

So I can get this far

string selectedOption = ViewBag.SelectedOption;

<select id="SelectedYear" name="SelectedYear">       
    <option value="2010">2010</option>//if(selectedOption == 2010)...meh...
    <option value="2011">2011</option>             
    <option value="2012">2012</option>
    <option value="2013">2013</option>
</select>

And I know I can store SelectedOption in a div and set the selected option with jQuery in a concise way after $(document).ready.

Is there a concise method to accomplish the task with straight up MVC3/razor?

Answer 1

Something like:

int selectedOption = ViewBag.SelectedOption;

<select id="SelectedYear" name="SelectedYear">       
    <option value="2010" @(selectedOption == 2010 ? "selected" : "")>2010</option>
    <option value="2011" @(selectedOption == 2011 ? "selected" : "")>2011</option>             
    <option value="2012" @(selectedOption == 2012 ? "selected" : "")>2012</option>
    <option value="2013" @(selectedOption == 2013 ? "selected" : "")>2013</option>
</select>

That being said, this is the kind of stuff HtmlHelper.DropDownList is for.

Have your logic inside the controller and just pass an IEnumerable through ViewBag. At that point you just have to call the helper within the view:

@Html.DropDownList("optionName", ViewBag.MyOptionsList as IEnumerable<SelectListItem>)