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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Salesforce Data Cloud

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

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

Create a Salesforce Data Cloud-Connected Blazor App

Start by creating a Blazor project that references the CData ADO.NET Provider for Salesforce Data Cloud

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

SELECT Salesforce Data Cloud Data from the Blazor App

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

   Salesforce Data Cloud supports authentication via the OAuth standard.

   OAuth

   Set AuthScheme to OAuth.

   Desktop Applications

   CData provides an embedded OAuth application that simplifies authentication at the desktop.

   You can also authenticate from the desktop via a custom OAuth application, which you configure and register at the Salesforce Data Cloud console. For further information, see Creating a Custom OAuth App in the Help documentation.

   Before you connect, set these properties:

   • InitiateOAuth: GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
   • OAuthClientId (custom applications only): The Client ID assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.
   • OAuthClientSecret (custom applications only): The Client Secret assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.

   When you connect, the driver opens Salesforce Data Cloud's OAuth endpoint in your default browser. Log in and grant permissions to the application.

   The driver then completes the OAuth process as follows:

   • Extracts the access token from the callback URL.
   • Obtains a new access token when the old one expires.
   • Saves OAuth values in OAuthSettingsLocation so that they persist across connections.

   For other OAuth methods, including Web Applications and Headless Machines, refer to the Help documentation.

   For example:

   • The code below creates a simple Blazor app for displaying Salesforce Data Cloud data, using standard SQL to query Salesforce Data Cloud just like SQL Server.

           @page "/"
           @using System.Data;
           @using System.Data.CData.SalesforceDataCloud;
           
           <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
           
           Welcome to your Data app.
           
           <div class="row">
               <div class="col-12">
           
                   @using (SalesforceDataCloudConnection connection = new SalesforceDataCloudConnection(
                     ""))
                   {
                       var sql = "SELECT [Account ID], [Account Name] FROM Account WHERE EmployeeCount > 250";
                       var results = new DataTable();
           
                       SalesforceDataCloudDataAdapter dataAdapter = new SalesforceDataCloudDataAdapter(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>
         

   • Rebuild and run the project. The ADO.NET Provider renders Salesforce Data Cloud data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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