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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Zoho Projects

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

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

Create a Zoho Projects-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT Zoho Projects Data from the Blazor App

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

   The connector uses OAuth to authenticate with Zoho Projects. CData Software has already registered an OAuth application with Zoho Project which is embedded and used to authenticate.

   If you use the embedded credentials, set the InitiateOAuth connection property to "GETANDREFRESH".

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

   For example:

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.ZohoProjects;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (ZohoProjectsConnection connection = new ZohoProjectsConnection(
                   ""))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT Id, Name FROM Portals WHERE CrmPartner = 'true'";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     ZohoProjectsDataAdapter dataAdapter = new ZohoProjectsDataAdapter(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 Projects data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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