Build SQL Server-Connected Web Apps in Servoy

Servoy is a rapid application development and deployment platform. When paired with the CData JDBC Driver for SQL Server, users can build SQL Server-connected apps that work with live SQL Server data. This article describes how to connect to SQL Server from Servoy and build a simple web app to display and search SQL Server data.

With built-in optimized data processing, the CData JDBC Driver offers unmatched performance for interacting with live SQL Server data. When you issue complex SQL queries to SQL Server, the driver pushes supported SQL operations, like filters and aggregations, directly to SQL Server and utilizes the embedded SQL engine to process unsupported operations client-side (often SQL functions and JOIN operations). Its built-in dynamic metadata querying lets you work with SQL Server data using native data types.

Connect to SQL Server in Servoy Developer

To build SQL Server-connected apps, you need to first create a data provider in Servoy Developer using the CData JDBC Driver for SQL Server.

1. Install the JDBC Driver.
2. Copy the JDBC Driver JAR file. (cdata.jdbc.sql.jar) to the /application_server/drivers/ directory in the installation directory for Servoy.
3. Open Servoy Developer.
4. In the Solution Explorer, right-click Database Server (under Resources) and choose "Connect to existing database" -> "empty."
   1. Name the server.
   2. Click to show the advanced server settings.

      • Set the URL, for example: jdbc:sql:User=myUser;Password=myPassword;Database=NorthWind;Server=myServer;Port=1433;

        Built-In Connection String Designer

        For assistance in constructing the JDBC URL, use the connection string designer built into the SQL Server JDBC Driver. Either double-click the JAR file or execute the jar file from the command-line.

        				java -jar cdata.jdbc.sql.jar
        				

        Fill in the connection properties and copy the connection string to the clipboard.

        Connecting to Microsoft SQL Server

        Connect to Microsoft SQL Server using the following properties:

        • Server: The name of the server running SQL Server.
        • User: The username provided for authentication with SQL Server.
        • Password: The password associated with the authenticating user.
        • Database: The name of the SQL Server database.

        Connecting to Azure SQL Server and Azure Data Warehouse

        You can authenticate to Azure SQL Server or Azure Data Warehouse by setting the following connection properties:

        • Server: The server running Azure. You can find this by logging into the Azure portal and navigating to "SQL databases" (or "SQL data warehouses") -> "Select your database" -> "Overview" -> "Server name."
        • User: The name of the user authenticating to Azure.
        • Password: The password associated with the authenticating user.
        • Database: The name of the database, as seen in the Azure portal on the SQL databases (or SQL warehouses) page.

        SSH Connectivity for SQL Server

        You can use SSH (Secure Shell) to authenticate with SQL Server, whether the instance is hosted on-premises or in supported cloud environments. SSH authentication ensures that access is encrypted (as compared to direct network connections).

        SSH Connections to SQL Server in Password Auth Mode

        To connect to SQL Server via SSH in Password Auth mode, set the following connection properties:

        • User: SQL Server User name
        • Password: SQL Server Password
        • Database: SQL Server database name
        • Server: SQL Server Server name
        • Port: SQL Server port number like 3306
        • UserSSH: "true"
        • SSHAuthMode: "Password"
        • SSHPort: SSH Port number
        • SSHServer: SSH Server name
        • SSHUser: SSH User name
        • SSHPassword: SSH Password

        SSH Connections to SQL Server in Public Key Auth Mode

        To connect to SQL Server via SSH in Password Auth mode, set the following connection properties:

        • User: SQL Server User name
        • Password: SQL Server Password
        • Database: SQL Server database name
        • Server: SQL Server Server name
        • Port: SQL Server port number like 3306
        • UserSSH: "true"
        • SSHAuthMode: "Public_Key"
        • SSHPort: SSH Port number
        • SSHServer: SSH Server name
        • SSHUser: SSH User name
        • SSHClientCret: the path for the public key certificate file
        👁 Using the built-in connection string designer to generate a JDBC URL (Salesforce is shown.)
        
      • Select the Driver class you just copied, for example, cdata.jdbc.sql.SQLDriver
   👁 Connecting to data through the JDBC Driver (Salesforce is shown).
   

Build a SQL Server-Connected Web App

Once you have configured the connection to SQL Server in the Servoy Developer resources, you are ready to build apps with access to live SQL Server data.

Create a New Solution

1. In the Server Explorer, right-click "All solutions" and select "Create new solution."
2. Name the solution.
3. Select the checkbox to include the "search" module.
4. Click "Finish."

Create a New Form

Right-click "Forms" and select "Create new form."

1. Name the form.
2. Select a Datasource.
3. Set the type (e.g., Simple) and click "Finish."

Add a Data Grid to the Form

1. Drag a Data Grid component (from Servoy NG-Grids) onto the form.

2. Drag a column component onto the Data Grid and set the "dataprovider" property for each column component to a column from the SQL Server "table" (e.g., ShipName from the Orders table).

   Continue adding columns as desired.

Add Searching to the App

Note that the "svySearch" extension is required to add search functionality (included by default when you create a new solution). If you did not add the extension when you created the solution or you are modifying an existing solution, you can add the search module by right-clicking Modules (in the solution) and selecting "Add Module." Select "svySearch" and click "OK."

1. Drag a Text Field component onto the Form.
2. Right-click the Form and select "Open in Script Editor."
3. Create a new variable (JavaScript) to hold the search value:

   var searchText = '';
   

4. Back on the Form, in the Text Field properties:
   1. Set the "dataprovider" property to the Form variable you just created.
   2. Double-click to add a method for the onAction event.
   3. Click to create the method in "Form," name the method (e.g., onEnter), and click "Create private."
   4. Click "OK & Show."
5. Add the following JavaScript to the JavaScript file to use the Servoy framework to implement searching bound data based on the text in the Text Field:

   var search = scopes.svySearch.createSimpleSearch(foundset).setSearchText(searchText);
   search.setSearchAllColumns();
   search.loadRecords(foundset);
   

Save and Launch the App

Save the form and JavaScript file, then click Run -> Launch NGClient to start the web app.

Download a free, 30-day trial of the CData JDBC Driver for SQL Server and start building SQL Server-connected apps with Servoy. Reach out to our Support Team if you have any questions.