Displaying items in dropdown list box

Question

I am trying to display in a dropdown list box a list of 'scheduled visits' based on previous entries. I am able to gather the information but when i display it the dropdown list box turns into an input box and non of my information that i want are being displayed. The format in which i would like my items to be displayed is by : 10/2/2012 - At School.

Here is what i have for my code:

This is where i gather the info of the visit - date and place

public JsonResult GetVisitDetails(Guid visitEntryId)
    {
        var model = new VisitDetailModel();
        VisitEntry visitEntry = _visitEntryService.Get(visitEntryId);
        if(visitEntry == null)
        {
            model.Message = string.Format(Message.NotFoundMessage, Resources.Entities.Visit.EntityName);
            return Json(model);
        }
        model.VisitEntryId = visitEntryId;
        model.VisitTypeId = visitEntry.VisitTypeId;
        if (visitEntry.VisitType != null)
            model.VisitType = visitEntry.VisitDate.ToShortDateString();
        return Json(model);
    }
#region Nested Type:VisitDetailModel

    public class VisitDetailModel
    {
        public Guid VisitEntryId { get; set; }
        public short VisitTypeId { get; set; }
        public string VisitType { get; set; }
        public string VisitDate { get; set; }
        public string Message { get; set; }
    }

    #endregion

This is what i have in my AddToViewModel:

 var visits = _visitEntryService.FindAllForCase(viewModel.CaseId, _currentUser.OfficeId).Where(v=>v.VisitDate <= DateTime.Today.SetToMaximumTime()).OrderByDescending(v=>v.VisitDate).ToList();

        visits.Insert(0, new VisitEntry());
        viewModel.Visits = visits.ToSelectList("VisitEntryId", "Display", viewModel.VisitEntryId.ToString());

        if(viewModel.VisitTypes.Count() == 0)
            ModelState.AddModelError("",string.Format("No active {0} entered.", Kids.Resources.Entities.VisitType.EntityNamePlural));

My .ascx page to show dropdown:

<div class="row">
<%:Html.EditorFor(m=>m.VisitEntryId) %>
<%:Html.LabelFor(m=>m.Visits) %>
<%:Html.ValidationMessageFor(m=>m.VisitEntryId) %>

My viewModel:

 [LocalizedDisplayName("VisitEntry", NameResourceType = typeof(VisitActivity))]
    public short? VisitEntryId { get; set; }

    [UIHint("DropDownList")]
    [DropDownList(DropDownListTargetProperty = "VisitEntryId")]
    public IEnumerable<SelectListItem> Visits { get; set; }

Any information of why i am not able to display a dropdownlist would be helpful.

Answer 1

In your ascx you're doing EditorFor on model.VisitEntryId which is an int

You need a Html.DropDownFor for a drop down list.

Your model.Visits is a SelectList and I'm guessing you should do:

<%:Html.LabelFor(m=>m.VisitEntryId) %>
<%:Html.EditorFor(m=>m.Visits) %>
<%:Html.ValidationMessageFor(m=>m.VisitEntryId) %>