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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Zendesk

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

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

Create a Zendesk-Connected Blazor App

Start by creating a Blazor project that references the CData ADO.NET Provider for Zendesk

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

SELECT Zendesk Data from the Blazor App

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

   Connecting to Zendesk

   To connect, set the URL and provide authentication. The URL is your Zendesk Support URL: https://{subdomain}.zendesk.com.

   Authenticating to Zendesk

   You can authenticate using the Basic or OAuth methods.

   Using Basic Authentication

   To use Basic authentication, specify your email address and password or your email address and an API token. Set User to your email address and follow the steps below to provide the Password or ApiToken.

   • Enable password access in the Zendesk Support admin interface at Admin > Channels > API.
   • Manage API tokens in the Zendesk Support Admin interface at Admin > Channels > API. More than one token can be active at the same time. Deleting a token deactivates it permanently.

   Using OAuth Authentication

   See the Getting Started guide in the CData driver documentation for an authentication guide.

   For example: URL=https://subdomain.zendesk.com;[email protected];Password=test123;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.Zendesk;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (ZendeskConnection connection = new ZendeskConnection(
                   "URL=https://subdomain.zendesk.com;[email protected];Password=test123;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT Id, Subject FROM Tickets";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     ZendeskDataAdapter dataAdapter = new ZendeskDataAdapter(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 Zendesk data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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