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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Access

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

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

Create a Access-Connected Blazor App

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

1. Create a Blazor project on Visual Studio.
👁 Create a Blazor app project.

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.Access.dll, typically located at C:\Program Files\CData\CData ADO.NET Provider for Access\lib etstandard2.0).
👁 Reference ADO.NET for Access .dll in the Blazor app.

SELECT Access Data from the Blazor App

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

   To connect, set the DataSource property to the path to the Access database.

   For example: DataSource=C:/MyDB.accdb;

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

    @page "/"
    @using System.Data;
    @using System.Data.CData.Access;
    
    <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
    
    Welcome to your Data app.
    
    <div class="row">
    <div class="col-12">
    
    @using (AccessConnection connection = new AccessConnection(
    "DataSource=C:/MyDB.accdb;"))
    {
    var sql = "SELECT Orders.Freight, Customers.ContactName FROM Customers INNER JOIN Orders ON Customers.CustomerId=Orders.CustomerId";
    var results = new DataTable();
    
    AccessDataAdapter dataAdapter = new AccessDataAdapter(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 Access data as an HTML table in the Blazor app. 👁 Query Access from Blazor app.
   

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