c# 4.0 - JavaScript to choose droplist value not working in ASP .NET MVC4 with HTMLHelper and "All" -

i'm using javascript selected value of drop list in mvc 4 have issue think caused htmlhelper.

controller - populate droplist

private string populatestandard(object selectedvalue = null) {     var query = db.database                   .sqlquery<standardmodel>(                         "select * [dbo].[getstandards] ('" +                          user.identity.name + "', '" + datetime.utcnow + "')")                   .tolist();      viewbag.standard = new selectlist(query, "standard", "standard", selectedvalue);      try { return query[0].standard; }     catch { return ""; } } 

view

the view has section drop list. please note inclusion of "all". think problem. puts first row atop drop list saying "all" null value. want that. far (so what)

@html.displaynamefor(m => m.standard) @html.dropdownlist("standard", "all") 

javascript

it's long story, have other code requires me value of drop list using javascript, i'm doing this:

var e = document.getelementbyid("standard"); var sstandard = e.options[e.selectedindex].value; 

problem

if no value chosen, should first row, "all" text or "" value. instead, i'm getting second row, first 1 data populated database.

is html helper causing me not first row? or javascript off?

edit - show viewsource on drop list

these first few lines of rendered list

<select id="standard" name="standard"><option value="">all</option> <option value="2s">2s</option> <option value="aero">aero</option> 

@html.dropdownlist("standard", "all")

here "all" option label. not value.