MVC set dropdownlist value to bool

[HexElffilter]

I'm having difficulty trying to get an MVC form to post with valid data.

I have narrowed it down to two dropdownlists on the page.
The values that it binds to in my model page is a boolean.

Code from Model

        [Required(ErrorMessage="Please select Yes or No")]
        public bool Annonymous { get; set; }

        [Required(ErrorMessage="Please select Yes or No")]
        public bool TakeFurther { get; set; }

Code to setup DropDownList from Controller

        private void DropDownReBind()
        {
            List<SelectListItem> SelYN = new List<SelectListItem>();

            SelYN.Add(new SelectListItem
            {
                Text = "Yes",
                Value = "1"
            });
            SelYN.Add(new SelectListItem
            {
                Text = "No",
                Value = "0"
            });

            ViewData["selYN"] = SelYN;
        }

Code from View

        <table>
            <tr>
                <td class="editor-label">
                    Would you like to speak to someone from student services?
                </td>
                <td class="editor-field">
                    @Html.DropDownListFor(model => model.Annonymous, (IEnumerable<SelectListItem>)ViewData["selYN"], "-- Please Select --")
                    @Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.Annonymous)
                </td>
            </tr>
            <tr>
                <td class="editor-label">
                    Do you want to be contacted to discuss this matter further?
                </td>
                <td class="editor-field">
                    @Html.DropDownListFor(model => model.TakeFurther, (IEnumerable<SelectListItem>)ViewData["selYN"], "-- Please Select --")
                    @Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.TakeFurther)
                </td>
            </tr>
        </table>

On post the validation fails I guess it is trying to use a string instead of a boolean, can I change the postback value in the ModelState before the page is validated?

Code for Post in Controller

        [HttpPost]
        public ActionResult Create(StudentIncident studentincident)
        {
            if (ModelState.IsValid)
            {
                studentincident.ID = Guid.NewGuid();
                db.StudentIncidents.Add(studentincident);
                db.SaveChanges();
                return RedirectToAction("Index");
            }

            DropDownReBind();

            return View(studentincident);
        }

 

[elkdanger]

Hi,

In case you haven't sorted this by now, you want to be using a Custom Model Binder. This allows you to create an object whereby you can intercept the binding for specific models (in your case StudentIncident) and do the logic yourself for picking out the fields you need, by looking at the raw form data.

Have a look at this quick tutorial on creating and using custom model binders for ideas on how you could author your own.