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

Install the CData ADO.NET Provider for IBM Informix

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

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

Create a IBM Informix-Connected Blazor App

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

1. Create a Blazor project on Visual Studio.
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.Informix.dll, typically located at C:\Program Files\CData\CData ADO.NET Provider for IBM Informix\lib etstandard2.0).

SELECT IBM Informix Data from the Blazor App

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

   Set the following properties to connect to IBM Informix

   • Server: Set this to the name of the server running IBM Informix.
   • Port: Set this to the port the IBM Informix server is listening on.
   • Database: Set this to the name of the IBM Informix database.
   • User: Set this to the username of a user allowed to access the database.
   • Password: Set this to the password of a user allowed to access the database.

   For example: Server=10.0.1.2;Port=50000;User=admin;Password=admin;Database=test;

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

         @page "/"
         @using System.Data;
         @using System.Data.CData.Informix;
         
         <h1>Hello, world!</h1>
         
         Welcome to your Data app.
         
         <div class="row">
             <div class="col-12">
         
                 @using (InformixConnection connection = new InformixConnection(
                   "Server=10.0.1.2;Port=50000;User=admin;Password=admin;Database=test;"))
                 {
                     var sql = "SELECT Id, Price FROM Books WHERE Category = 'US'";
                     var results = new DataTable();
         
                     InformixDataAdapter dataAdapter = new InformixDataAdapter(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 IBM Informix data as an HTML table in the Blazor app.

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