Connect to ScrapingBee 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 ScrapingBee 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 ScrapingBee using standard SQL queries.

Install the CData API Driver for ADO.NET

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

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

Create a ScrapingBee-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 ScrapingBee Data from the Blazor App

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

   Using API Key Authentication

   ScrapingBee uses API key authentication. To obtain an API key:

   1. Sign in to your ScrapingBee account at https://app.scrapingbee.com
   2. Navigate to the Dashboard and locate your API key in the top section.
   3. Copy the API key for use in the connection string.

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

   • AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
   Set the following in the ProfileSettings connection property:
   • APIKey: Set this to your ScrapingBee API key.

   Example Connection String

   Profile=C:\profiles\ScrapingBee.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings="APIKey=your_api_key";
   

   Connecting to ScrapingBee

   Once the authentication is configured, you can connect to ScrapingBee and query data from any of the available tables. All tables require at least one input parameter (such as a search query or product ID) to retrieve data.

   For example: Profile=C:\profiles\ScrapingBee.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings="APIKey=your_api_key";

3. The code below creates a simple Blazor app for displaying ScrapingBee data, using standard SQL to query ScrapingBee 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\ScrapingBee.apip;AuthScheme=APIKey;ProfileSettings="APIKey=your_api_key";"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT ,  FROM GoogleSearchResults WHERE SearchQuery = 'cdata drivers'";
                     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 ScrapingBee data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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