Model - field based on values in other fields - asp.net-mvc

Question

I've literally just started learning MVC.
I have created a simple model:
public class StaffMember
{
public Guid StaffMemberId { get; set; }
public string Forename { get; set; }
public string Surname { get; set; }
public string Team { get; set; }
public virtual ICollection<Observation> Observations { get; set; }
}
Now I have decided that I want to include a drop down list of all StaffMembers on the create page for the observation records. I manage to do that with the following code:
#Html.DropDownListFor(o => o.StaffMemberId,
new SelectList(Model.StaffMembers,
"StaffMemberId",
"Forename",
Model.StaffMemberId),
"-- Select Staff Member --")
This works perfectly, although, you'll notice that I can only include a single field, "Forename".
I want the drop down list to show the staff member's full name. I tried concatenating the fields manually i.e. "Forename" + " " + "Surname" but that threw and exception about there being no such field as "Forename" + " " + "Surname".
My question is this - is it possible to add to my model some sort of property that is simply based on the value of two existing properties. Something like:
public class StaffMember
{
private string _fullName;
public Guid StaffMemberId { get; set; }
public string Forename { get; set; }
public string Surname { get; set; }
public string Team { get; set; }
public virtual ICollection<Observation> Observations { get; set; }
public string FullName
{
get
{
return _fullName;
}
set
{
value = this.Forename + " " + this.Surname;
_fullName = value;
}
}
}
I tried the above, but when populating my database (I'm using entity model code first), that field always has a value of null, even though the field shows the correct value when debugging.
I'm using the following to auto populate the db with some test data:
var staff = new List<StaffMember>
{
new StaffMember
{
Forename = "Bob",
Surname = "Hope",
StaffMemberId = Guid.NewGuid(),
Team = "Test"
},
new StaffMember
{
Forename = "Stan",
Surname = "Laurel",
StaffMemberId = Guid.NewGuid(),
Team = "Test"
}
};
staff.ForEach(s => context.StaffMembers.Add(s));
context.SaveChanges();
Any pointers would be really useful here, especially if I am approaching this in completely the wrong way!

Answer 1

Yes, you're really close with the FullName property.
public class StaffMember
{
public string FullName
{
get
{
return this.Forename + " " + this.Surname;
}
}
}
No need for a private _fullName since you only need to get the values of Forename and Surname. And you don't need a set since you won't set a value back to this model using FullName

Answer 2

You can make this change in your Repository where you add Staff_Member
public void AddStaff(Staff_Member sm)
{
String fullName = sm.Forename.ToString()+" "+sm.Surname.ToString();
sm.FullName = fullName;
_context.Staff_Member.Add(sm);
}
However, you need to have set method for FullName as well in your Staff_Member model.