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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Quickbase

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

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

Create a Quickbase-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT Quickbase Data from the Blazor App

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

   User Authentication Method

   To authenticate with user credentials, specify the following connection properties:

   1. Set the User and Password.
   2. If your application requires an ApplicationToken;, you must provide it otherwise an error will be thrown. You can find the ApplicationToken under SpecificApp > Settings > App management > App properties > Advanced settings > Security options > Manage Application Token.

   User Token Authentication

   To authenticate with a user token, specify the following connection properties:

   1. Set UserToken and you are ready to connect. You can find the UserToken under Quick Base > My Preferences > My User Information > Manage User Tokens.

   For example: [email protected];Password=password;Domain=myinstance.quickbase.com;ApplicationToken=bwkxrb5da2wn57bzfh9xn24

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.QuickBase;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (QuickBaseConnection connection = new QuickBaseConnection(
                   "[email protected];Password=password;Domain=myinstance.quickbase.com;ApplicationToken=bwkxrb5da2wn57bzfh9xn24"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT Id, Column1 FROM SampleTable_1 WHERE Column2 = '100'";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     QuickBaseDataAdapter dataAdapter = new QuickBaseDataAdapter(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 Quickbase data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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