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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Raisers Edge NXT

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

Install the Raisers Edge NXT ADO.NET Data Provider from the CData website or from NuGet. Search NuGet for "Raisers Edge NXT ADO.NET Data Provider."

Create a Raisers Edge NXT-Connected Blazor App

Start by creating a Blazor project that references the CData ADO.NET Provider for Raisers Edge NXT

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

SELECT Raisers Edge NXT Data from the Blazor App

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

   Before establishing a connection, supply the SubscriptionKey, found in the Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT Profile.

   Authenticating to Raiser's Edge NXT

   Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT uses the OAuth authentication standard. You can connect to without setting any connection properties using the embedded OAuth credentials.

   Alternatively, you can authenticate by creating a custom app to obtain the OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL connection properties.

   See the Help documentation for an authentication guide.

   For example: SubscriptionKey=MySubscriptionKey;OAuthClientId=MyOAuthClientId;OAuthClientSecret=MyOAuthClientSecret;CallbackURL=http://localhost:33333;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.RaiserEdgeNXT;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (RaiserEdgeNXTConnection connection = new RaiserEdgeNXTConnection(
                   "SubscriptionKey=MySubscriptionKey;OAuthClientId=MyOAuthClientId;OAuthClientSecret=MyOAuthClientSecret;CallbackURL=http://localhost:33333;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT Id, AddressLines FROM Constituents WHERE Type = 'Home'";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     RaiserEdgeNXTDataAdapter dataAdapter = new RaiserEdgeNXTDataAdapter(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 Raisers Edge NXT data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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