Static list of data for dropdown list MVC - asp.net-mvc

Question

I want to have a static list of data in a model that can be used in a viewmodel and dropdown on a view. I want to be able to use it in this way in my controller:
MaintenanceTypeList = new SelectList(g, "MaintenanceTypeID", "MaintenanceTypeName"),
and access it in my view like this:
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.MaintenanceTypeID)
#Html.DropDownListFor(x => x.MaintenanceTypeID, Model.MaintenanceTypeList, "-- Select --", new { style = "width: 150px;" })
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(x => x.MaintenanceTypeID)
I am currently using a repository pattern for data in the database, but don't want to put this data in the database because it will never change. I still want it in a model though. Basically, my dropdown list should offer the following:
Value Text
-------------------------------------
Calibration Calibration
Prevent Preventative Maintenance
CalibrationPrevent PM and Calibration
Any help or examples of static lists using models/oop is appreciated

Answer 1

You can use a list initializer:
public static SomeHelperClass{
public static List<SelectListItem> MaintenanceTypeList {
get {
return new List<SelectListItem>
{ new SelectListItem{Value = "Calibration", Text = "Calibration"}
,new SelectListItem{ Value = "Prevent", Text = "Preventative Maintenance" }
,etc.
};
}
}
}
Hopefully I didn't miss a curly brace somewhere. You can google "C# list initializer" for more examples. I don't remember off top of my head what the actual collection to is for a SelectListCollection is, but I know there is a overload of DropDownList that accepts List as I often just have a collection of keyvaluepairs or something else, and then in my view I convert it to SelectListItems: someList.Select(i => new SelectListItem { Value = i.Key, Text = i.Value })
Note that another option is to place your values in an enum. You can then use a Description attribute on each enum value:
enum MaintenanceType {
[Description("Calibration")]
Calibration = 1,
[Description("Preventative Maintenance")]
Prevent = 2
}
Then you can do things like
Enum.GetValues(typeof(MaintenanceType )).Select(m=>new SelectListItem{ Value = m, Text = m.GetDescription()} ).ToList()
That last line was a little off the top of the head, so hopefully I didn't make a mistake. I feel like an enum is more well structured for what you're trying to do.