Selected item list and other object - asp.net-mvc-3

Question

I'm new in asp.net mvc3 programming and I'm trying to build a specific form. I need to have a form with the user field (which I have) but also a list of object (in that case SStatus).
My form :
#using (Html.BeginForm()) {
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
<fieldset>
<legend>Création d'utilisateur</legend>
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Lastname)
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.EditorFor(model => model.Lastname)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Lastname)
</div>
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Firstname)
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.EditorFor(model => model.Firstname)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Firstname)
</div>
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Email)
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.EditorFor(model => model.Email)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Email)
</div>
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Login)
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.EditorFor(model => model.Login)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Login)
</div>
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.Description)
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.EditorFor(model => model.Description)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Description)
</div>
<p>Status</p>
#{
//The error was form here
#{
var list = ViewBag.listStatus as List<SStatus>;
}
#if (list != null)
{
foreach(var status in list)
{
<option value=#status.ID>#status.Name</option>
}
}
</select>
}
<p>
<input type="submit" value="Création" />
</p>
</fieldset>
}
The list call :
public ActionResult CreateUserView()
{
RestClient client = new RestClient(Resource.Resource.LocalUrlService);
RestRequest request = new RestRequest("/status/all", Method.GET);
var response = client.Execute(request);
if(response.StatusCode == HttpStatusCode.OK)
{
List<SStatus> listSatus = JsonHelper.FromJson<List<SStatus>>(response.Content);
ViewBag.listStatus = listSatus;
}
return View();
}
And the form post:
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult CreateUserView(Uuser userToCreate, string list)
{
//list got the ID of SStatus.
if (ModelState.IsValid)
{//Stuff}
}
So the question is : How get the selected list item ?
Regards.

Answer 1

Use a view model pattern. I still don't see how your Uuser object is sent to the view (via the default [HttpGet] action, but I think I see what you're trying to accomplish.) If you refactor this way, you'll still get to use the built-in validation, automagic model binding, etc.
public class CreateUserViewModel
{
public Uuser User { get; set; }
public string Status { get; set; }
}
Then your action parameter should be of type CreateUserViewModel e.g.
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult CreateUserView(CreateUserViewModel vm)
{
if(ModelState.IsValid)
{
{//Stuff}
}
I believe you'll need a name attribute on the <select> element in order for it to be posted.
<p>Status</p>
#{
<select name="Status">
Although, you're going to run into trouble if the model isn't valid. Your view should be strongly typed against CreateUserViewModel e.g.
#model YourModelNamespace.CreateUserViewModel
So, your Lastname property might look like this (note the .User)
#using (Html.BeginForm()) {
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
<fieldset>
<legend>Création d'utilisateur</legend>
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.User.Lastname)
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.EditorFor(model => model.User.Lastname)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.User.Lastname)
</div>
And finally, I guess you could keep the possible list of status in the ViewBag, but you'll want to set the selected value to #Model.Status. You may want to consider changing CreateUserViewModel.Status to a List<SelectListItem> that you can populate from your controller e.g. your GET action should return View(CreateUserViewModel)
public ActionResult CreateUserViewModel()
{
CreateUserViewModel vm = new CreateUserViewModel();
vm.User = // set user
vm.Status = new List<SelectListItem>()
{
new SelectListItem()
{
Value = "status1",
Text = "status 1",
Selected = false
},
new SelectListItem()
{
Value = "status2",
Text = "status 2",
Selected = true
},
};
return View(vm); // this is the correct way to strongly type your view
}