Azure storage viewer
Azure storage viewer
(see https://blogs.msdn.com/sergeim for updates)
Contents
Step 1. Install and start the Viewer. 3
Step 2. Modify configuration file. 4
Step 3. Start browsing your storage. 5
Introduction
If you have registered for Azure Services at https://www.microsoft.com/azure/register.mspx, you may want to explore what is in your storage – your queues, blobs and tables. You can use the “Azure storage viewer” to browse your storage. To a limited extent, you can also add and delete objects in Azure storage (under your account, of course).
The two screen shots below show messages in one of the queues, and contents of a small table.
Azure storage viewer supports both mouse and keyboard navigation. It can be used as a learning tool, or as a content browser for small experimental projects.
System requirements
I tested on Windows 2003 SP2, Vista x32 and x64, Windows 2008 x64 (Standard and DC). I was admin on all machines. Viewer doesn’t need to run elevated.
Sample screenshots
Installation
Step 1. Install and start the Viewer.
The installation is ClickOnce-based. Type
start https://meleshchuk.members.winisp.net/quince/default.htm
in the command window (or click the URL), then click install.
Note: if you already have .NET FX 3.5 SP1 installed, you can just start the Azure storage viewer by typing https://meleshchuk.members.winisp.net/quince/quince.application - the IE understands the “.application” file type.
If you don’t have FX 3.5 SP1, then you will be prompted to install it. Installation of the FX will start automatically. It takes quite a while.
The viewer will start and display the “credentials dialog”. Next, modify configuration file. See next step.
Step 2. Modify configuration file
When the viewer detects connection problem (with the storage), it brings up the “credentials dialog”. Either click “Edit credentials” or “Edit in notepad”. The first option will read configuration file and fillin the two text boxes with current values; copy-paste your account and shared key. The second option opens the configuration file, which looks like below. You can also open configuration file at any time by clicking “Edit Configuration” button.
Change yellow entries to you account and shared key values that you received when signing up to Azure services. Save configuration file (CTRL+S) in case you selected the option to edit the configuration file.
Click OK. You data should be displayed now.
Disclaimer: It is the ClickOnce install generator that placed the viewer under Microsoft group, and I did not figure out yet how to change the group name to something more modest.
. Disclaimer: It is the ClickOnce install generator that placed the viewer under Microsoft group, and I did not figure out yet how to change the group name to something more modest.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<appSettings>
<!-- change 2 lines below -->
<add key = "AccountName" value="sergeim"/>
<add key = "AccountSharedKey"
value="3SV+JU1S+wDiHPrNEIeOOk2b4Z…u5zPBGbB8CV+t6RfQ=="/>
<!-- no need to change -->
<add key="BlobStorageEndpoint" value="https://blob.core.windows.net"/>
<add key="QueueStorageEndpoint" value="https://queue.core.windows.net"/>
<add key="TableStorageEndpoint" value="https://table.core.windows.net"/>
</appSettings>
. . .
Step 3. Start browsing your storage.
Most of the tree view entries present a context menu when right-clicked. Like below.
Pure viewing, however, can be done by just using keyboard arrows.
Typical screenshot of the just started viewer is shown below.
Left pane updates as the selection of the tree items changes: