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

Getting Started

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Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for Microsoft Dataverse

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

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

Create a Microsoft Dataverse-Connected Blazor App

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

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

SELECT Microsoft Dataverse Data from the Blazor App

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

   You can connect without setting any connection properties for your user credentials. Below are the minimum connection properties required to connect.

   • InitiateOAuth: Set this to GETANDREFRESH. You can use InitiateOAuth to avoid repeating the OAuth exchange and manually setting the OAuthAccessToken.
   • OrganizationUrl: Set this to the organization URL you are connecting to, such as https://myorganization.crm.dynamics.com.
   • Tenant (optional): Set this if you wish to authenticate to a different tenant than your default. This is required to work with an organization not on your default Tenant.

   When you connect the Common Data Service OAuth endpoint opens in your default browser. Log in and grant permissions. The OAuth process completes automatically.

   For example: OrganizationUrl=https://myaccount.crm.dynamics.com/;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH;

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

    @page "/"
    @using System.Data;
    @using System.Data.CData.CDS;
    
    <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
    
    Welcome to your Data app.
    
    <div class="row">
    <div class="col-12">
    
    @using (CDSConnection connection = new CDSConnection(
    "OrganizationUrl=https://myaccount.crm.dynamics.com/;InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH;"))
    {
    var sql = "SELECT AccountId, Name FROM Accounts WHERE Name = 'MyAccount'";
    var results = new DataTable();
    
    CDSDataAdapter dataAdapter = new CDSDataAdapter(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 Microsoft Dataverse data as an HTML table in the Blazor app. 👁 Query Microsoft Dataverse from Blazor app.
   

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