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

In ASP.NET MVC 5.1, they added the EnumDropDownListFor() helper, so no need for custom extensions:

Model:

public enum MyEnum
{
    [Display(Name = "First Value - desc..")]
    FirstValue,
    [Display(Name = "Second Value - desc...")]
    SecondValue
}

View:

@Html.EnumDropDownListFor(model => model.MyEnum)

Using Tag Helper (ASP.NET MVC 6):

<select asp-for="@Model.SelectedValue" asp-items="Html.GetEnumSelectList<MyEnum>()">

Answer 2

Another fix to this extension method - the current version didn't select the enum's current value. I fixed the last line:

public static SelectList ToSelectList<TEnum>(this TEnum enumObj) where TEnum : struct
    {
        if (!typeof(TEnum).IsEnum) throw new ArgumentException("An Enumeration type is required.", "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())).ToString());
    }

Answer 3

You can also use my custom HtmlHelpers in Griffin.MvcContrib. The following code:

@Html2.CheckBoxesFor(model => model.InputType) <br />
@Html2.RadioButtonsFor(model => model.InputType) <br />
@Html2.DropdownFor(model => model.InputType) <br />

Generates:

https://github.com/jgauffin/griffin.mvccontrib

Answer 4

This is version for Razor:

@{
    var itemTypesList = new List<SelectListItem>();
    itemTypesList.AddRange(Enum.GetValues(typeof(ItemTypes)).Cast<ItemTypes>().Select(
                (item, index) => new SelectListItem
                {
                    Text = item.ToString(),
                    Value = (index).ToString(),
                    Selected = Model.ItemTypeId == index
                }).ToList());
 }


@Html.DropDownList("ItemTypeId", itemTypesList)

Answer 5

@Html.DropdownListFor(model=model->Gender,new List<SelectListItem>
{
 new ListItem{Text="Male",Value="Male"},
 new ListItem{Text="Female",Value="Female"},
 new ListItem{Text="--- Select -----",Value="-----Select ----"}
}
)

Answer 6

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<TEnum>(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:

<select id="MyEnumList" name="MyEnumList">
    <option value="1">Movie</option>
    <option selected="selected" value="2">Game</option>
    <option value="3">Book </option>
</select>

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