Build a Simple VCL Application for SharePoint Excel Services Data

Embarcadero RAD Studio provides a development environment for Delphi and C++Builder applications. With the CData ODBC Driver for SharePoint Excel Services, you gain access to live SharePoint Excel Services data within RAD Studio, abstracting the data into tables, views, and stored procedures that can be used to retrieve and update SharePoint Excel Services data. This article will walk through connecting to SharePoint Excel Services and creating a simple VCL application with the Form Designer.

Create a Connection to SharePoint Excel Services Data

If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.

The URL, User, and Password properties, under the Authentication section, must be set to valid credentials for SharePoint Online, SharePoint 2010, or SharePoint 2013. Additionally, the Library property must be set to a valid SharePoint Document Library and the File property must be set to a valid .xlsx file in the indicated Library.

You can then follow the steps below to use the Data Explorer to create a FireDAC connection to SharePoint Excel Services data.

1. In a new VCL Forms application, expand the FireDAC node in the Data Explorer.
2. Right-click the ODBC Data Source node in the Data Explorer.
3. Click Add New Connection.
4. Enter a name for the connection.
5. In the FireDAC Connection Editor that appears, set the DataSource property to the name of the ODBC DSN for SharePoint Excel Services.

Create VCL Applications with Connectivity to SharePoint Excel Services Data

Follow the procedure below to start executing queries to SharePoint Excel Services data from a simple VCL application that displays the results of a query in a grid.

1. Drop a TFDConnection component onto the form and set the following properties:

   • ConnectionDefName: Select the FireDAC connection to SharePoint Excel Services data.
   • Connected: Select True from the menu and, in the dialog that appears, enter your credentials.

2. Drop a TFDQuery component onto the form and set the properties below:

   • Connection: Set this property to the TFDConnection component, if this component is not already specified.

   • SQL: Click the button in the SQL property and enter a query. For example:

     SELECT Name, AnnualRevenue FROM Account
     

   • Active: Set this property to true.

3. Drop a TDataSource component onto the form and set the following property:

   • DataSet: In the menu for this property, select the name of the TFDQuery component.

4. Drop a TDBGrid control onto the form and set the following property:

   • DataSource: Select the name of the TDataSource.
5. Drop a TFDGUIxWaitCursor onto the form — this is required to avoid a run-time error.

You now have an executable application that displays the results of the SQL Query set in the TFDQuery object.

Related Articles

Below you can find other articles for using the CData ODBC Driver with RAD Studio, Delphi, and C++ Builder.

• DataBind Controls to SharePoint Excel Services Data in C++Builder
• DataBind Controls to SharePoint Excel Services Data in Delphi
• Viewing SharePoint Excel Services Data in RAD Studio Data Explorer