Super simple implementation of multiselect list box in Edit view

Question

Using MVC4 here with EF and CF (badly)

I have a class like this:

public class Feature
{
    public int ID { get; set; }
    public string Desc { get;         


        

Answer 1

As always you could start by writing a view model that will meet the requirements of the view you described:

public class EditDeviceViewModel
{
    public IEnumerable<int> SelectedFeatures { get; set; }
    public IEnumerable<SelectListItem> Features { get; set; }
    public int ID { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
}

and then your controller:

public class DeviceController : Controller
{
    public ActionResult Edit(int id)
    {
        Device device = (go get your device from your repository using the id)
        IList<Feature> features = (go get all features from your repository)

        // now build the view model
        var model = new EditDeviceViewModel();
        model.ID = device.ID;
        model.Name = device.Name;
        model.SelectedFeatures = device.Features.Select(x => x.ID);
        model.Features = features
            .Select(x => new SelectListItem
            {
                Value = x.ID.ToString(),
                Text = x.Name,
            })
            .ToList();

        // pass the view model to the view
        return View(model);
    }

    [HttpPost]
    public ActionResult Edit(EditDeviceViewModel model)
    {
        // model.SelectedFeatures will contain the selected feature IDs here
        ...
    }
}

and finally the view:

@model EditDeviceViewModel

@using (Html.BeginForm())
{
    @Html.Html.HiddenFor(x => x.ID)
    <div>
        @Html.LabelFor(x => x.Name)
        @Html.EditorFor(x => x.Name)
    </div>
    <div>
        @Html.LabelFor(x => x.SelectedFeatures)
        @Html.ListBoxFor(x => x.SelectedFeatures, Model.Features)
    </div>

    <button type="submit">Edit</button>
}