Use Elastic Scale package within Azure function - azure

Question

I would like to use the Microsoft.Azure.SqlDatabase.ElasticScale.Client package from within my Azure function.
I've added a project.json as follows:
{
"frameworks": {
"net452":{
"dependencies": {
"Microsoft.Azure.SqlDatabase.ElasticScale.Client": "1.3.3"
}
}
}
}
Function:
#r "System.Data"
#r "Newtonsoft.Json"
using System.Net;
using Newtonsoft.Json;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
using Microsoft.Azure.SqlDatabase.ElasticScale.ShardManagement;
public static async Task<HttpResponseMessage> Run(HttpRequestMessage req, TraceWriter log)
{
ShardMapManager shardMapManager;
return req.CreateResponse(HttpStatusCode.OK);
}
I get the following errors:
error CS0234: The type or namespace name 'SqlDatabase' does not exist in the namespace 'Microsoft.Azure' (are you missing an assembly reference?)
error CS0246: The type or namespace name 'ShardMapManager' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

Answer 1

You are missing the #r statement to reference external assembly
The Microsoft.Azure.SqlDatabase.ElasticScale.Client package installs a Microsoft.Azure.SqlDatabase.ElasticScale.Client.dll, so then try:
#r "Microsoft.Azure.SqlDatabase.ElasticScale.Client.dll" or
#r "bin\Microsoft.Azure.SqlDatabase.ElasticScale.Client.dll"
(I've always has issues with the path).
Still, I would recommend not using the CSX scripting approach and instead use precompiled binaries using the technique described here. Then you get the full benefit of C# and you won't have to deal with adding #r statement to include the assembly.