DataBind Controls to Google Translate Data in Delphi

The CData ODBC driver for Google Translate supports the ODBC standard to enable integration of live Google Translate data with visual form designers and other rapid development tools in Delphi. The ODBC driver simplifies data access strategies for applications that share a single codebase like Delphi by providing a single API for database development. This article shows how to how to connect to Google Translate data and query data from a simple visual component library (VCL) application, as well as from Delphi code.

Create a Connection to Google Translate 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.

Authentication

Google Cloud Translation API requires OAuth 2.0 authentication to ensure secure access to translation services, datasets, glossaries, and adaptive MT resources. This authentication method allows you to securely connect to your Google Cloud project and manage translation resources with proper authorization.

OAuth 2.0 Setup and Configuration

Step 1: Create Google Cloud Project and Enable API

To set up OAuth authentication:

1. Visit the Google Cloud Console
2. Create a new project or select an existing project
3. Note down your Project ID (required for all API calls)
4. Navigate to "APIs & Services" > "Library"
5. Search for and enable the "Cloud Translation API"
6. Go to "APIs & Services" > "Credentials"
7. Click "Create Credentials" and select "OAuth Client ID"
8. Configure the OAuth consent screen if prompted
9. Select "Desktop application" or "Web application" as appropriate
10. Set the authorized redirect URI (CallbackURL)
11. Copy the Client ID and Client Secret for use in your connection

Required Connection Properties

• AuthScheme: Set this to OAuth (required)
• OAuthClientId: Client ID from Google Cloud Console (required)
• OAuthClientSecret: Client secret from Google Cloud Console (required)
• CallbackURL: Redirect URI specified in your OAuth application (required)
• InitiateOAuth: Set to GETANDREFRESH for automatic token management (recommended)
• ProjectId: Your Google Cloud project ID or project number (required for queries)

Required OAuth Scopes

The Google Cloud Translation API Profile requires the following OAuth scope:

• https://www.googleapis.com/auth/cloud-translation - Full access to Cloud Translation API resources including translation, datasets, glossaries, and adaptive MT

You can then follow the steps below to use the Data Explorer to create a FireDAC connection to Google Translate 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 Google Translate.

👁 A FireDAC connection to the ODBC data source. (Salesforce is shown.)

Create VCL Applications with Connectivity to Google Translate Data

Follow the procedure below to start executing queries to Google Translate 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 Google Translate 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 LanguageCode, DisplayName FROM SupportedLanguages WHERE ProjectId = 'my-project-12345'
     

   • 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.

👁 Components in FireDAC used to databind an editable grid to the data source. (Salesforce is shown.)

Execute Commands to Google Translate with FireDAC Components

You can use the TFDConnection and TFQuery components to execute queries to Google Translate data. This section provides Google Translate data-specific examples of executing queries with the TFQuery component.

Connect to Google Translate Data

To connect to the data source, set the Connected property of the TFDConnection component to true. You can set the same properties from code:

FDConnection1.ConnectionDefName := 'mygoogletranslate';
FDConnection1.Connected := true;

Create Parameterized Queries

Parameterized resources can improve performance: Preparing statements is costly in system resources and time. The connection must be active and open while a statement is prepared. By default, FireDAC prepares the query to avoid recompiling the same query over and over. To disable statement preparation, set ResourceOptions.DirectExecute to True; for example, when you need to execute a query only once.

Execute a Query

To execute a query that returns a result set, such as a select query, use the Open method. The Open method executes the query, returns the result set, and opens it. The Open method will return an error if the query does not produce a result set.

FDQuery1.Open('select * from SupportedLanguages where ProjectId = :ProjectId',['my-project-12345']);

Related Articles

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

• DataBind Controls to Google Translate Data in C++Builder
• Viewing Google Translate Data in RAD Studio Data Explorer
• Build a Simple VCL Application for Google Translate Data