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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for LinkedIn Ads

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

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

Create a LinkedIn Ads-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT LinkedIn Ads Data from the Blazor App

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

   LinkedIn Ads uses the OAuth authentication standard. OAuth requires the authenticating user to interact with LinkedIn using the browser. See the OAuth section in the Help documentation for a guide.

   For example: OAuthClientId=MyOAuthClientId;OAuthClientSecret=MyOAuthClientSecret;CallbackURL=http://localhost:portNumber;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.LinkedInAds;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (LinkedInAdsConnection connection = new LinkedInAdsConnection(
                   "OAuthClientId=MyOAuthClientId;OAuthClientSecret=MyOAuthClientSecret;CallbackURL=http://localhost:portNumber;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT VisibilityCode, Comment FROM Analytics WHERE EntityId = '238'";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     LinkedInAdsDataAdapter dataAdapter = new LinkedInAdsDataAdapter(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 LinkedIn Ads data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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