Connect to Azure Analysis Services 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 Azure Analysis Services can be used with standard ADO.NET interfaces, such as LINQ and Entity Framework, to interact with live Azure Analysis Services 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 Azure Analysis Services using standard SQL queries.

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Azure Analysis Services

CData ADO.NET Providers allow users to access Azure Analysis Services just like they would access SQL Server, using simple SQL queries.

Install the Azure Analysis Services ADO.NET Data Provider from the CData website or from NuGet. Search NuGet for "Azure Analysis Services ADO.NET Data Provider."

Create a Azure Analysis Services-Connected Blazor App

Start by creating a Blazor project that references the CData ADO.NET Provider for Azure Analysis Services

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.AAS.dll, typically located at C:\Program Files\CData\CData ADO.NET Provider for Azure Analysis Services\lib etstandard2.0).

SELECT Azure Analysis Services Data from the Blazor App

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

   To connect to Azure Analysis Services, set the Url property to a valid server, for instance, asazure://southcentralus.asazure.windows.net/server, in addition to authenticating. Optionally, set Database to distinguish which Azure database on the server to connect to.

   Azure Analysis Services uses the OAuth authentication standard. OAuth requires the authenticating user to interact with Azure Analysis Services using the browser. You can connect without setting any connection properties for your user credentials. See the Help documentation for more information.

   For example: URL=asazure://REGION.asazure.windows.net/server;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.AAS;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (AASConnection connection = new AASConnection(
                   "URL=asazure://REGION.asazure.windows.net/server;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT Country, Education FROM Customer WHERE Country = 'Australia'";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     AASDataAdapter dataAdapter = new AASDataAdapter(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 Azure Analysis Services data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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