c# - LINQ distinct to @Html.DropDownList -

ok having lot of trouble think should pretty easy. trying populate dropdown list distinct values table.

this linq provides list of departments need each drop down option.

ipacs_master_lists    .where (x => (x.department != null))    .select (s => s.department)    .distinct ()    .select (v => v) 

how make dropdown list this?

i've tried messing @html.dropdownlist cannot work seems.

my controller follows. tried pass in viewbag couldn't work either.

public actionresult index()         {             var docs = db.ipacs_master_list;             viewbag.departments = new selectlist(db.ipacs_master_list.where(x => (x.department != null)).select (s => s.department).distinct().select (v => v), "id", "department", 0);             return view(docs);         } 

don't use viewbag, everytime use kitten dies.

seriously, really bad practice.

first, assuming in model:

public class mymodel {    public list<documents> docs { get; set; } //don't know type    public list<selectlistitem> departments { get; set; }    public string department { get; set; } //this holds select in view } 

then change action be:

public actionresult index() {     mymodel model = new mymodel();     model.docs = db.ipacs_master_list;     model.departments = db.ipacs_master_list        .where(x => x.department != null)        .select(s => s.department)        .distinct()        .select(s => new selectlistitem            {                text = s.name,                value = s.name            })        .tolist();          return view(model); } 

then have view use model mymodel.

then can do:

@html.dropdownlistfor(m => m.department, model.departments)