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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Zoho Creator

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

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

Create a Zoho Creator-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT Zoho Creator Data from the Blazor App

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

   The connector is already registered with Zoho Creator as an OAuth application.

   If you would prefer to use your own custom OAuth app, see the Help documentation.

   For example: AccountsServer=AccountsServer;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.ZohoCreator;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (ZohoCreatorConnection connection = new ZohoCreatorConnection(
                   "AccountsServer=AccountsServer;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT ID, Leave_Type FROM Leave_Types WHERE Leave_Type = 'Sick'";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     ZohoCreatorDataAdapter dataAdapter = new ZohoCreatorDataAdapter(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 Zoho Creator data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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