Ng-init fails to init value on load

Question

When using ng-init in combination with an array there is never an init value. After trying all the possible options, i hope someone can find a fix for this problem.

The html

<select class="update-invisible" ng-model="user.level" ng-init="user.level" ng-change="updateUserlevel(user)" ng-options="userlevel.id as userlevel.label for userlevel in userlevels track by userlevel.id"></select>

Note: the ngmodel (user.level) is an integer that specifies the current userlevel, in an user information object. In this object the userlevel has to be updated in order to change the users permission.

userlevels object, to match the user.level int to a string to display front end

$scope.userlevels = [{
        id: 1,
        label: 'Regular user'
    },{
        id: 2,
        label: 'Administrator'
    }];

Answer 1

You should use ng-init to evaluate an angular expression. The following snip sets the level property of the user scope object to 5.

<div ng-init="user.level = 5">

Answer 2

Problem is with your track by , remove track by then it will work

<select class="update-invisible" ng-model="user.level = 1" ng-init="user.level" ng-change="updateUserlevel(user)" ng-options="userlevel.id as userlevel.label for userlevel in userlevels"></select>

OR-ELSE

<select class="update-invisible" ng-model="user.level" ng-init="user.level = 1" ng-change="updateUserlevel(user)" ng-options="userlevel.id as userlevel.label for userlevel in userlevels track by userlevel.id">
<option value="">--Select one Option--</option>
</select>

means include your own default option tag.