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

Getting Started

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Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for QuickBooks

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

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

Create a QuickBooks-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT QuickBooks Data from the Blazor App

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

   When you are connecting to a local QuickBooks instance, you do not need to set any connection properties.

   Requests are made to QuickBooks through the Remote Connector. The Remote Connector runs on the same machine as QuickBooks and accepts connections through a lightweight, embedded Web server. The server supports SSL/TLS, enabling users to connect securely from remote machines.

   The first time you connect, you will need to authorize the Remote Connector with QuickBooks. See the "Getting Started" chapter of the help documentation for a guide.

   For example: URL=http://remotehost:8166;User=admin;Password=admin123;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.QuickBooks;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (QuickBooksConnection connection = new QuickBooksConnection(
                   "URL=http://remotehost:8166;User=admin;Password=admin123;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT Name, CustomerBalance FROM Customers";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     QuickBooksDataAdapter dataAdapter = new QuickBooksDataAdapter(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 QuickBooks data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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