How to set the value of a select field through htmlAttribute in MVC 5?

Question

I have an ActionLink defined as in this:

@Html.ActionLink("Write a review", "Create", "Reviews")

The point is that, when it redirects to the Create view of the Reviews controller, there is a select field with the id of BusinessID. Therefore, I want to set the value of the select field to the specific entry when it opens the page. Let's say that the value that I want to set it is Picasso. How, can I achieve it? Is it possible to do it somehow using htmlAttributes?

If you have select html in your redirected page, can't you just set option field to 'selected'? Something like this: ``? — Shukhrat Raimov, Aug 17 '14 at 19:00
@ShukhratRaimov Yes, I want the second option. Though I guess I need to provide a selected attribute in DropDownLink. — , Aug 17 '14 at 20:48

Shukhrat Raimov · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-17T22:18:47.800

You can accept id parameter of your selected item in your Create action method of ReviewsController, and then use object routeValues parameter of @Html.ActionLink() to send particular id you want to be set as selected. Something like this:

@Html.ActionLink("Write a review", "Create", "Reviews", new {id = 1}, null);

then your Create action method should accept this id (e.g:

  public ActionResult Create(int id) 
  { 
      List<SelectListItem> items = new List<SelectListItem>(); //create <option> </option> items of DropDownList
      items.Add(new SelectListItem { Text = "da Vinci", Value = "0", Selected = (id == 0)});
      items.Add(new SelectListItem { Text = "Picasso", Value = "1", Selected = (id == 1)});
      items.Add(new SelectListItem { Text = "van Gogh", Value = "2", Selected = (id == 2)});
      ViewBag.Painters = items;
      return View();
   }

which renders Create.chtml accordingly selected item:

@Html.DropDownList("Painters")

Note that DropDownList parameter("Painters") should have the same name as a ViewBag.Painters. As a result after clicking a link you will get selected item to Picasso, because it is Selected attribute will be true, as we have assigned it in Create action method.

I think there could be smarter way to write this dropdownlist, but this action method works fine. I encourage you to read more about @Html.DropDownList helper method on the following links: www.asp.net and K.Scott Allen. Hope you can find this helpful.

How to set the value of a select field through htmlAttribute in MVC 5?

1 Answers1