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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for SAP SuccessFactors LMS

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

Install the SAP SuccessFactors LMS ADO.NET Data Provider from the CData website or from NuGet. Search NuGet for "SAP SuccessFactors LMS ADO.NET Data Provider."

Create a SAP SuccessFactors LMS-Connected Blazor App

Start by creating a Blazor project that references the CData ADO.NET Provider for SAP SuccessFactors LMS

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

SELECT SAP SuccessFactors LMS Data from the Blazor App

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

   SAP SuccessFactors LMS uses OAuth authentication. Before connecting, you must configure an OAuth application tied to your SAP SuccessFactors LMS account.

   To establish a connection, set the following properties:

   • User: Your SAP SuccessFactors LMS username.
   • CompanyId: Your SAP SuccessFactors company identifier.
   • Url: The SAP SuccessFactors API URL (e.g., https://api4.successfactors.com).
   • OAuthClientId: The client Id assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.
   • OAuthClientSecret: The client secret assigned when you registered your custom OAuth application.

   See the Getting Started chapter of the help documentation for a guide to creating a custom OAuth app and using OAuth.

   For example: User=username;CompanyId=CompanyId;Url=https://api4.successfactors.com;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.SAPSuccessFactorsLMS;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (SAPSuccessFactorsLMSConnection connection = new SAPSuccessFactorsLMSConnection(
                   "User=username;CompanyId=CompanyId;Url=https://api4.successfactors.com;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT ItemID, ItemTitle FROM [Admin].[Search_Service].[Items] WHERE Active = true";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     SAPSuccessFactorsLMSDataAdapter dataAdapter = new SAPSuccessFactorsLMSDataAdapter(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 SAP SuccessFactors LMS data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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