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

Install the CData API Driver for ADO.NET

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

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

Create a Scrapfly-Connected Blazor App

Start by creating a Blazor project that references the CData API Driver for ADO.NET

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

SELECT Scrapfly Data from the Blazor App

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

   The Scrapfly API uses API Key authentication. The API key is passed as the key query parameter on every request.

   Using API Key Authentication

   Your Scrapfly API key is required to create a connection. To obtain your API key:

   1. Log into your Scrapfly account at scrapfly.io.
   2. Navigate to Dashboard and select API Keys.
   3. Copy your API key (begins with scp-live- for production or scp-test- for the test environment).

   After obtaining your API key, set the following connection properties:

   • AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
   • APIKey: Set this to your Scrapfly API key.

   Example connection string:

   Profile=C:\profiles\Scrapfly.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings='APIKey=your_api_key';
   

   For example: Profile=C:\profiles\Scrapfly.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings='APIKey=your_api_key';

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.API;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (APIConnection connection = new APIConnection(
                   "Profile=C:\profiles\Scrapfly.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings='APIKey=your_api_key';"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT ,  FROM Account WHERE  = ''";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     APIDataAdapter dataAdapter = new APIDataAdapter(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 Scrapfly data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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