Dictionary, enum or other alternative for implementing a priority of a task in MVC?

Question

Hi, I have got a task table in my database with a priority field containing an integer value from 1 to 4 as a test. I am using a LINQ to SQL dbml file so I have a task class and I want to be able to display the text value of the priority to the user in my view, as a value in a select list.

I have added the below code to my task class:

 static enum Priorities {
  High = 1,
  Medium = 2,
  Low = 3,
  None = 4
 }

 public String GetPriority {
  get {
   Priorities p = (Priorities)priority;
   return p.ToString();
  }
 }

I want to use the priority in a drop down list and I am unsure how to do this, by first getting a list of the values to put into the select list and then selecting the correct value for the task object :(

I was thinking about doing the below instead and using a dictionary, but if someone has some advice or a better solution that would be very useful, Thanks.

     static IDictionary<string, int> priorityDictionary =
   new Dictionary<string, int>(){
    {"High", 1},
    {"Medium", 2},
    {"Low", 3},
 {"None", 4}
  };

 public static IEnumerable<string> Priorities {
  get { return priorityDictionary.Keys; }
 }

Answer 1

Since eventually you'll need this as an IEnumerable<SelectListItem>, why not create a lazy-loaded, static property that contains this as the menu?

private static List<SelectListItem> priorities;
public static IEnumerable<SelectListItem> PriorityMenu
{
    get
    {
         if (priorities == null)
         {
             priorities = new List<SelectListItem>();
             foreach (var i in Enum.GetValues(typeof(Priority)))
             {
                 priorities.Add( new SelectListItem
                                 {
                                     Text = Enum.GetName( typeof(Priority), i ),
                                     Value = i.ToString()
                                 });
             }
         }
         return priorities;
    }
}