Connect to Short.io 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 Short.io 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 Short.io using standard SQL queries.

Install the CData API Driver for ADO.NET

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

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

Create a Short.io-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 Short.io 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

   Short.io uses API Key authentication. To obtain your API key:

   1. Log in to your Short.io account
   2. Navigate to Settings > Integrations & API > API
   3. Click Create API Key and copy your API key

   After obtaining the API key, you are ready to connect:

   • AuthScheme: Set this to APIKey.
   • APIKey: Set this to your Short.io API key obtained from Settings > Integrations & API > API.

   Example connection string:

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

   Available Tables

   The Short.io profile provides access to the following tables:

   • Domains - Short.io domains associated with the authenticated account
   • Links - Short links for a domain
   • LinkExpand - Expand a short link by domain and path
   • LinksByOriginalUrl - Retrieve multiple short links matching a given original destination URL
   • Folders - Link folders within a specific domain
   • LinkPermissions - Permission records for a specific link within a domain
   • CountryTargeting - Country-based redirect targeting rules for a specific short link
   • RegionTargeting - Region-based redirect targeting rules for a specific short link
   • Regions - List of available regions/states for a given country code
   • DomainStatistics - Aggregated click and traffic statistics for a Short.io domain
   • LinkStatistics - Aggregated click and traffic statistics for a specific Short.io link

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

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

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