c# - Loading items from entity framework created database into dropdownlistfor helper -

i have been struggling loading display list of items database table created through entity framework.

i have found code examples online many have static list of items created , added dropdown list list like. http://www.aspnetmvcninja.com/general/asp-net-mvc-dropdown-list-example. found article scott allen basis have (http://odetocode.com/blogs/scott/archive/2010/01/18/drop-down-lists-and-asp-net-mvc.aspx) think issue im not correctly loading data _jobs?

here code have in controller , other classes, or guidance appreciated feel im close , yet not.

public class jobscontroller : controller {   var tasks = db.jobtypes.select(c => new selectlistitem {value = c.jobtypeid.tostring(), text = c.jobdescription});   viewbag.jobtypeallnames = tasks;   return view(); } 

i have 2 classs being used entity framework code first. job class references jobtypes class.

public class job {     [key]     [display(name="job id")]     public int jobid { get; set; }     [display(name = "job type")]     public int jobtypesid     {         get;         set;     }      private readonly list<jobtype> _jobs;      public ienumerable<selectlistitem> jobtypeitems     {                 {             return new selectlist(_jobs, "jobtypesid", "jobdescription",1);         }     } }  public class jobtype {     public int jobtypeid { get; set; }     [display(name = "task")]     public string jobdescription { get; set; } } 

in view have

@html.dropdownlistfor(model => model.jobtypesid, model.jobtypeitems); 

this not going compile:

public class jobscontroller : controller {   var tasks = db.jobtypes.select(c => new selectlistitem {value = c.jobtypeid.tostring(), text = c.jobdescription});   viewbag.jobtypeallnames = tasks;   return view(); } 

you need have action return actionresult , use model have within view rather use viewbag:

public class jobscontroller : controller {    public actionresult index()   {     var model = new job();     var tasks = db.jobtypes.select(c => new selectlistitem {value =   c.jobtypeid.tostring(), text = c.jobdescription});     model.jobtypeitems = tasks;     return view(model);   } } 

ps need adapt job model include setter , remove un-used _jobs:

public class job {     [key]     [display(name="job id")]     public int jobid { get; set; }     [display(name = "job type")]     public int jobtypesid     {         get;         set;     }      public ienumerable<selectlistitem> jobtypeitems     {         get; set;     } }