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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Reckon

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

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

Create a Reckon-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT Reckon Data from the Blazor App

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

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

   Requests to Reckon are made through the Remote Connector. The Remote Connector runs on the same machine as Reckon 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 to your company file, you will need to authorize the Remote Connector with Reckon. See the "Getting Started" chapter of the help documentation for a guide.

   For example: User=RCUser;Password=RCUserPassword;URL=http://remotehost:8166;

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

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

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