Build a Simple VCL Application for Deel Data

Embarcadero RAD Studio provides a development environment for Delphi and C++Builder applications. With the CData ODBC Driver for Deel, you gain access to live Deel data within RAD Studio, abstracting the data into tables, views, and stored procedures that can be used to retrieve Deel data. This article will walk through connecting to Deel and creating a simple VCL application with the Form Designer.

Create a Connection to Deel 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.

To authenticate to Deel, you can use API Key (Bearer Token) authentication.

Using APIKey Authentication

You can authenticate using a Deel API Key. Create an API key in your Deel account settings under Settings > API or Developer Settings. Make sure to grant appropriate permissions based on the data you need to access (e.g., read access for invoices, timesheets, contracts, workers, etc.).

After creating your API Key, set the following connection properties:

• AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
• APIKey: Set this to your Deel API Key (Bearer token).

Example APIKey connection string

Profile=C:\profiles\Deel.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings='APIKey=your_deel_api_key';

You can then follow the steps below to use the Data Explorer to create a FireDAC connection to Deel data.

1. In a new VCL Forms application, expand the FireDAC node in the Data Explorer.
2. Right-click the ODBC Data Source node in the Data Explorer.
3. Click Add New Connection.
4. Enter a name for the connection.
5. In the FireDAC Connection Editor that appears, set the DataSource property to the name of the ODBC DSN for Deel.

Create VCL Applications with Connectivity to Deel Data

Follow the procedure below to start executing queries to Deel data from a simple VCL application that displays the results of a query in a grid.

1. Drop a TFDConnection component onto the form and set the following properties:

   • ConnectionDefName: Select the FireDAC connection to Deel data.
   • Connected: Select True from the menu and, in the dialog that appears, enter your credentials.

2. 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 ,  FROM Invoices WHERE  = ''
     

   • Active: Set this property to true.

3. 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.

4. Drop a TDBGrid control onto the form and set the following property:

   • DataSource: Select the name of the TDataSource.
5. 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.

• DataBind Controls to Deel Data in C++Builder
• DataBind Controls to Deel Data in Delphi
• Viewing Deel Data in RAD Studio Data Explorer