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Get the Report →Build a Simple VCL Application for ConstantContact Data
How to build a simple VCL Application to view ConstantContact data in RAD Studio using the CData ODBC Driver for ConstantContact.
Embarcadero RAD Studio provides a development environment for Delphi and C++Builder applications. With the CData ODBC Driver for ConstantContact, you gain access to live ConstantContact data within RAD Studio, abstracting the data into tables, views, and stored procedures that can be used to retrieve ConstantContact data. This article will walk through connecting to ConstantContact and creating a simple VCL application with the Form Designer.
Create a Connection to ConstantContact Data
If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.
Start by setting the Profile connection property to the location of the ConstantContact Profile on disk (e.g. C:\profiles\ConstantContact.apip). Next, set the ProfileSettings connection property to the connection string for Profile (see below).
ConstantContact API Profile Settings
ConstantContact uses OAuth-based authentication.
First, you will need to register an OAuth application with ConstantContact. You can do so from the ConstantContact API Guide (https://v3.developer.constantcontact.com/api_guide/index.html), under "MyApplications" > "New Application". Your Oauth application will be assigned a client id (API Key) and you can generate a client secret (Secret).
After setting the following connection properties, you are ready to connect:
- AuthScheme: Set this to OAuth.
- InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to manage the process to obtain the OAuthAccessToken.
- OAuthClientId: Set this to the client_id that is specified in you app settings.
- OAuthClientSecret: Set this to the client_secret that is specified in you app settings.
- CallbackURL: Set this to the Redirect URI you specified in your app settings.
You can then follow the steps below to use the Data Explorer to create a FireDAC connection to ConstantContact data.
- In a new VCL Forms application, expand the FireDAC node in the Data Explorer.
- Right-click the ODBC Data Source node in the Data Explorer.
- Click Add New Connection.
- Enter a name for the connection.
- In the FireDAC Connection Editor that appears, set the DataSource property to the name of the ODBC DSN for ConstantContact.
Create VCL Applications with Connectivity to ConstantContact Data
Follow the procedure below to start executing queries to ConstantContact data from a simple VCL application that displays the results of a query in a grid.
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Drop a TFDConnection component onto the form and set the following properties:
- ConnectionDefName: Select the FireDAC connection to ConstantContact data.
- Connected: Select True from the menu and, in the dialog that appears, enter your credentials.
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Drop a TFDQuery component onto the form and set the properties below:
- Connection: Set this property to the TFDConnection component, if this component is not already specified.
SQL: Click the button in the SQL property and enter a query. For example:
SELECT Id, EmailAddress FROM Contacts WHERE CompanyName = 'Acme, Inc.'
- Active: Set this property to true.
Drop a TDataSource component onto the form and set the following property:
- DataSet: In the menu for this property, select the name of the TFDQuery component.
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Drop a TDBGrid control onto the form and set the following property:
- DataSource: Select the name of the TDataSource.
- Drop a TFDGUIxWaitCursor onto the form — this is required to avoid a run-time error.
You now have an executable application that displays the results of the SQL Query set in the TFDQuery object.
Related Articles
Below you can find other articles for using the CData ODBC Driver with RAD Studio, Delphi, and C++ Builder.