How do you create a dropdownlist from an enum in ASP.NET MVC?

Question

I\'m trying to use the Html.DropDownList extension method but can\'t figure out how to use it with an enumeration.

Let\'s say I have an enumeration like

Answer 1

This is Rune & Prise answers altered to use the Enum int value as the ID.

Sample Enum:

public enum ItemTypes
{
    Movie = 1,
    Game = 2,
    Book = 3
}

Extension method:

    public static SelectList ToSelectList(this TEnum enumObj)
    {
        var values = from TEnum e in Enum.GetValues(typeof(TEnum))
                     select new { Id = (int)Enum.Parse(typeof(TEnum), e.ToString()), Name = e.ToString() };

        return new SelectList(values, "Id", "Name", (int)Enum.Parse(typeof(TEnum), enumObj.ToString()));
    }

Sample of usage:

 <%=  Html.DropDownList("MyEnumList", ItemTypes.Game.ToSelectList()) %>

Remember to Import the namespace containing the Extension method

<%@ Import Namespace="MyNamespace.LocationOfExtensionMethod" %>

Sample of generated HTML:

    Movie
    Game
    Book 

Note that the item that you use to call the ToSelectList on is the selected item.