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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Google Analytics

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

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

Create a Google Analytics-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT Google Analytics Data from the Blazor App

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

   Google uses the OAuth authentication standard. To access Google APIs on behalf on individual users, you can use the embedded credentials or you can register your own OAuth app.

   OAuth also enables you to use a service account to connect on behalf of users in a Google Apps domain. To authenticate with a service account, you will need to register an application to obtain the OAuth JWT values.

   In addition to the OAuth values, set Profile to the profile you want to connect to. This can be set to either the Id or website URL for the Profile. If not specified, the first Profile returned will be used.

   For example: Profile=MyProfile;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.GoogleAnalytics;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (GoogleAnalyticsConnection connection = new GoogleAnalyticsConnection(
                   "Profile=MyProfile;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT Browser, Sessions FROM Traffic";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     GoogleAnalyticsDataAdapter dataAdapter = new GoogleAnalyticsDataAdapter(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 Google Analytics data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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