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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for IBM Cloudant

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

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

Create a Cloudant-Connected Blazor App

Start by creating a Blazor project that references the CData ADO.NET Provider for IBM Cloudant

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.Cloudant.dll, typically located at C:\Program Files\CData\CData ADO.NET Provider for IBM Cloudant\lib etstandard2.0).

SELECT Cloudant Data from the Blazor App

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

   Set the following connection properties to connect to Cloudant:

   • User: Set this to your username.
   • Password: Set this to your password.

   For example: User=abc123; Password=abcdef;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.Cloudant;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (CloudantConnection connection = new CloudantConnection(
                   "User=abc123; Password=abcdef;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT MovieRuntime, MovieRating FROM Movies";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     CloudantDataAdapter dataAdapter = new CloudantDataAdapter(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 Cloudant data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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