Connect to Adobe Analytics Data from Blazor Apps

Blazor is a framework for developing modern, client-side web UIs using .NET technology. Instead of coding in JavaScript, developers can use the familiar C# language and .NET libraries to build app UIs.

The CData ADO.NET Provider for Adobe Analytics can be used with standard ADO.NET interfaces, such as LINQ and Entity Framework, to interact with live Adobe Analytics data. Since Blazor supports .NET Core, developers can use CData ADO.NET Providers in Blazor apps. In this article, we will guide you to build a simple Blazor app that talks to Adobe Analytics using standard SQL queries.

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Adobe Analytics

CData ADO.NET Providers allow users to access Adobe Analytics just like they would access SQL Server, using simple SQL queries.

Install the Adobe Analytics ADO.NET Data Provider from the CData website or from NuGet. Search NuGet for "Adobe Analytics ADO.NET Data Provider."

Create a Adobe Analytics-Connected Blazor App

Start by creating a Blazor project that references the CData ADO.NET Provider for Adobe Analytics

1. Create a Blazor project on Visual Studio.
2. From the Solution Explorer, right click Dependencies, then click Add Project Reference.
3. In the Reference Manager, click the Browse button, and choose the .dll file of the installed ADO.NET Provider (e.g. System.Data.CData.AdobeAnalytics.dll, typically located at C:\Program Files\CData\CData ADO.NET Provider for Adobe Analytics\lib etstandard2.0).

SELECT Adobe Analytics Data from the Blazor App

1. Open the Index.razor file from the Project page.
2. In a AdobeAnalyticsConnection object, set the connection string:

   Adobe Analytics uses the OAuth authentication standard. To authenticate using OAuth, you will need to create an app to obtain the OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL connection properties. See the "Getting Started" section of the help documentation for a guide.

   Retrieving GlobalCompanyId

   GlobalCompanyId is a required connection property. If you do not know your Global Company ID, you can find it in the request URL for the users/me endpoint on the Swagger UI. After logging into the Swagger UI Url, expand the users endpoint and then click the GET users/me button. Click the Try it out and Execute buttons. Note your Global Company ID shown in the Request URL immediately preceding the users/me endpoint.

   Retrieving Report Suite Id

   Report Suite ID (RSID) is also a required connection property. In the Adobe Analytics UI, navigate to Admin -> Report Suites and you will get a list of your report suites along with their identifiers next to the name.

   After setting the GlobalCompanyId, RSID and OAuth connection properties, you are ready to connect to Adobe Analytics.

   For example: GlobalCompanyId=myGlobalCompanyId; RSID=myRSID; OAuthClientId=myOauthClientId; OauthClientSecret=myOAuthClientSecret; CallbackURL=myCallbackURL;

3. The code below creates a simple Blazor app for displaying Adobe Analytics data, using standard SQL to query Adobe Analytics just like SQL Server.

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.AdobeAnalytics;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (AdobeAnalyticsConnection connection = new AdobeAnalyticsConnection(
                   "GlobalCompanyId=myGlobalCompanyId; RSID=myRSID; OAuthClientId=myOauthClientId; OauthClientSecret=myOAuthClientSecret; CallbackURL=myCallbackURL;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT Page, PageViews FROM AdsReport WHERE City = 'Chapel Hill'";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     AdobeAnalyticsDataAdapter dataAdapter = new AdobeAnalyticsDataAdapter(sql, connection);
                     dataAdapter.Fill(results);
         
                     <table class="table table-bordered">
                         <thead class="thead-light">
                             <tr>
                                 @foreach (DataColumn item in results.Rows[0].Table.Columns)
                                 {
                                     <th scope="col">@item.ColumnName</th>
                                 }
                             </tr>
                         </thead>
                         <tbody>
                             @foreach (DataRow row in results.Rows)
                             {
                                 <tr>
                                     @foreach (var column in row.ItemArray)
                                     {
                                         <td>@column.ToString()</td>
                                     }
                                 </tr>
                             }
                         </tbody>
                     </table>
                 }
             </div>
         </div>
       

4. Rebuild and run the project. The ADO.NET Provider renders Adobe Analytics data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

   At this point, you have a Adobe Analytics-connected Blazor app, capable of working with live Adobe Analytics data just like you would work with a SQL Server instance. Download a free, 30-day trial and start working with live Adobe Analytics data in your Blazor apps today.