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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Email

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

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

Create a Email-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT Email Data from the Blazor App

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

   The User and Password properties, under the Authentication section, must be set to valid credentials. The Server must be specified to retrieve emails and the SMTPServer must be specified to send emails.

   For example: [email protected];Password=password;Server=imap.gmail.com;Port=993;SMTP Server=smtp.gmail.com;SMTP Port=465;SSL Mode=EXPLICIT;Protocol=IMAP;Mailbox=Inbox;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.Email;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (EmailConnection connection = new EmailConnection(
                   "[email protected];Password=password;Server=imap.gmail.com;Port=993;SMTP Server=smtp.gmail.com;SMTP Port=465;SSL Mode=EXPLICIT;Protocol=IMAP;Mailbox=Inbox;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT Mailbox, RecentMessagesCount FROM Mailboxes";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     EmailDataAdapter dataAdapter = new EmailDataAdapter(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 Email data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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