How to sort an ASp.net MVC dropdownlist?

Question

Hi

I have this code

    List<SelectListItem> list = new List<SelectListItem>()
    { 
        new SelectListItem() { Text = "bob", Value = "bob"},
        new SelectListItem() { Text = "apple", Value = "apple"},
        new SelectListItem() { Text = "grapes", Value = "grapes"},
    };

This will be used for binding with the asp.net mvc html helper. However I want to sort it before I bind it. How could i do this?

Answer 1

If you can use Linq then list.OrderBy(x => x.Value) or list.OrderByDescending(x =>x.Value) should do it.

edit

That should read;

list = list.OrderBy(x => x.Value);

Answer 2

var sorted = (from li in list
             orderby li.Text
             select li).ToList();

Voila!!

Answer 3

Here you go:

List<SelectListItem> list = new List<SelectListItem>()
{ 
    new SelectListItem() { Text = "apple", Value = "apple"},
    new SelectListItem() { Text = "bob", Value = "bob"},
    new SelectListItem() { Text = "grapes", Value = "grapes"},
};

Sorted:)

Sorry, couldn't stop myself:)

EDIT

It looks as if you needed:

var fruits = new List<string> {"apple", "bob", "grapes"};
fruits.Sort();
var fruitsSelectList = new SelectList(fruits);

and then in view

Html.DropDownList("Fruit",fruitsSelectList);

Answer 4

you can also sort it in the client side using javascript (jquery)

BTW if you know the elements of the list just sort them yourself :

List<SelectListItem> list = new List<SelectListItem> {
 new SelectListItem { Text = "apple", Value = "apple"},
 new SelectListItem { Text = "bob", Value = "bob"}, 
 new SelectListItem { Text = "grapes", Value = "grapes"}
 };

Answer 5

list.Sort

List<SelectListItem> list = new List<SelectListItem>()

{ new SelectListItem() { Text = "bob", Value = "bob"},
new SelectListItem() { Text = "apple", Value = "apple"},
new SelectListItem() { Text = "grapes", Value = "grapes"}, };

list.sort;

Answer 6

This is very good read on Sorting ASP.NET MVC using Linq