There is no ViewData item of type 'IEnumerable Error

Question

Hello everyone and thanks for the help in advance. I am trying to populate a select list from viewdata and a receiving the error "There is no ViewData item of type 'IEnumerable' that has the key 'codes'".

My controller code:

            List items = new List();
            items.Add(new SelectListItem { Text = "Sick", Value = "%992%" });
            items.Add(new SelectListItem { Text = "Well", Value = "%993%" });
            ViewBag.codes = new SelectList(items.ToList(), "Value", "Text");

and the view

@Html.DropDownList("codes", ViewBag.codes as SelectList)

I've done quite a few searches, but can't figure out what I am doing wrong. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer

The syntax is...

@Html.DropDownList("codes")

Answer

you are storing the list in ViewBag, but trying to access from ViewData. try:

ViewData["codes"] = new List
{
    new SelectListItem { Text = "Sick", Value = "%992%" },
    new SelectListItem { Text = "Well", Value = "%993%" }
};

Answer

Your code should work. Using the code copied from your question, dropdown is shown as expected:

result

I guess that the ViewBag is not properly given to the View. When the ViewBag is not set in the Controller like below:

Controller

Your error is reproduced:

Error

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There is no ViewData item of type 'IEnumerable<SelectListItem> Error

4 answers