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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Exchange

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

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

Create a Microsoft Exchange-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT Microsoft Exchange Data from the Blazor App

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

   Specify the User and Password to connect to Exchange. Additionally, specify the address of the Exchange server you are connecting to and the Platform associated with the server.

   For example: User='[email protected]';Password='myPassword';Server='https://outlook.office365.com/EWS/Exchange.asmx';Platform='Exchange_Online';

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.Exchange;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (ExchangeConnection connection = new ExchangeConnection(
                   "User='[email protected]';Password='myPassword';Server='https://outlook.office365.com/EWS/Exchange.asmx';Platform='Exchange_Online';"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT GivenName, Size FROM Contacts";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     ExchangeDataAdapter dataAdapter = new ExchangeDataAdapter(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 Microsoft Exchange data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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