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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Microsoft Planner

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

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

Create a Microsoft Planner-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT Microsoft Planner Data from the Blazor App

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

   You can connect without setting any connection properties for your user credentials. Below are the minimum connection properties required to connect.

   • InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
   • Tenant (optional): Set this if you wish to authenticate to a different tenant than your default. This is required to work with an organization not on your default Tenant.

   When you connect the Driver opens the MS Planner OAuth endpoint in your default browser. Log in and grant permissions to the Driver. The Driver then completes the OAuth process.

   1. Extracts the access token from the callback URL and authenticates requests.
   2. Obtains a new access token when the old one expires.
   3. Saves OAuth values in OAuthSettingsLocation to be persisted across connections.

   For example: OAuthClientId=MyApplicationId;OAuthClientSecret=MySecretKey;CallbackURL=http://localhost:33333;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.MicrosoftPlanner;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (MicrosoftPlannerConnection connection = new MicrosoftPlannerConnection(
                   "OAuthClientId=MyApplicationId;OAuthClientSecret=MySecretKey;CallbackURL=http://localhost:33333;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT TaskId, startDateTime FROM Tasks WHERE TaskId = 'BCrvyMoiLEafem-3RxIESmUAHbLK'";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     MicrosoftPlannerDataAdapter dataAdapter = new MicrosoftPlannerDataAdapter(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 Planner data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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