QuickBooks SQL is a robust tool that makes use of the QODBC Driver for QuickBooks to extract data from QuickBooks company files and synchronize them with one or more Microsoft SQL Server databases. When introducing a fully functional QODBC driver for the integration of accounting data files, QuickBooks employs SQL queries. Using the connector template, you may construct a procedure for integrating databases and QuickBooks, depending on the process and model.
In this blog, you’ll learn how to export data from QuickBooks to SQL Server if you want to get analytics-ready data quickly and easily. You can concentrate on what matters: extracting value from your accounting and financial data.
How to Connect QuickBooks to SQL Server?
You can use the SQL Gateway to configure a TDS (SQL Server) remoting provider and install a related server for QuickBooks information. After you’ve selected the provider, you may use the UI in SQL Server Management Studio to create the related server. You can migrate QuickBooks to SQL Server by following the steps below:
- Method 1: Using Hevo Data to Automate the Process to Connect QuickBooks to SQL Server
- Method 2: Manually migrate QuickBooks to SQL Server
Method 1: Using Hevo Data to Connect QuickBooks to SQL Server
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Step 1: Connect your QuickBooks account to Hevo’s platform. Hevo has an in-built QuickBooks Integration that connects to your account within minutes.
Step 2: Select SQL Server as your destination and start moving your data.
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Step 1: Assign QuickBooks as an ODBC Data Source
- You can work with QuickBooks information simply as you will a related SQL Server instance. If you haven’t already, first specify connection residences in an ODBC DSN (information supply name).
- This is the final step of the motive force installation.
- To create and configure ODBC DSNs, use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator. When you’re connecting to a neighborhood QuickBooks instance, you don’t have to set any connection residences.
- Requests are made to QuickBooks via the Remote Connector.
- The Remote Connector runs at the equal device as QuickBooks and accepts connections via a lightweight, embedded Web server.
- The server helps SSL/TLS, permitting customers to attach securely from far-off machines. You may want to authorize the Remote Connector with QuickBooks for first-time connections.
Step 2: Set up the TDS Remoting Service for QuickBooks to SQL Server
A guide to configuring a TDS remoting service in the SQL Gateway UI can be found in the SQL Gateway Overview. The TDS remoting service is a daemon process that monitors client TDS requests.
Step 3: Make a QuickBooks Data Linked Server
Step 3.1: From the UI, create a Linked Server
Connect to a SQL Server instance using SQL Server Management Studio.
In Object Explorer, expand the SQL Server database. Right-click Linked Servers in the Server Objects node and select New Linked Server. The New Linked Server dialog box appears.
Click the Other Data Source option in the General section and enter the following information after naming the linked server:
- Provider: Choose the SQL Server Native Client Provider that corresponds to your SQL Server version. SQL Server Native Client 11.0, for example.
- Data Source: Enter, separated by a comma, the host and port on which the TDS remoting service is running.
- Catalog: Enter the DSN of the data system.
Select the option to have the connection “made using this security context” in the Security section. Next, enter the username and password of a user you created in the SQL Gateway’s Users tab.
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The following are the main benefits of connecting to QuickBooks using SQL Server Linked Servers:
- Connectivity to additional database instances on the same or different servers.
- The capacity to conduct dispersed searches across the organization’s many data sources.
The capacity to apply the same methodology to a variety of data sources.
Step 4: Connect with SQL Server Management Studio
SQL Server Management Studio employs the SQL Server Client OLE DB provider, which necessitates the use of an in-process ODBC driver.
To query the linked server from SQL Server Management Studio, you must enable the “Allow inprocess” option in Management Studio for the SQL Server Native Client Provider.
Navigate to Server Objects -> Linked Servers -> Providers and open the properties for the provider you’re using. Save the changes after checking the “Allow inprocess” box.
Now you can now run queries to the QuickBooks linked server from any tool that can connect to SQL Server. Set the table name accordingly:
# Querying QuickBooks to SQL Server----
SELECT * FROM [linked server name].[Data QuickBooks Sys].[QuickBooks].[Customers]
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Limitations of manually integrating QuickBooks to SQL Server
Time-consuming and prone to mistakes
The procedure of manually moving data between SQL Server and QuickBooks is laborious and time-consuming. Human mistakes, such as typos, missing entries, or duplicate records, can also occur during this repeated job, which can have a detrimental effect on reporting and data accuracy.
Minimal automation
The automated possibilities provided by specialized integration tools are absent from manual integration. This adds to the time and effort necessary because you’ll need to manually map data fields, plan data transfers, and resolve any issues that may occur.
Lack of scalability
The number of data you collect and the size of your company will determine how practical and error-prone manual integration is. Growing manual procedures to a larger scale is unsustainable and inefficient.
Security issues
Security hazards arise when data is sent manually. To avoid unwanted access or data breaches throughout the transfer process, you must make sure the right data security safeguards are in place.
Limited functionality
Usually, manual integration restricts the two systems’ ability to communicate data to a basic level. Advanced features that might be essential for sophisticated reporting and analysis, such as bi-directional data flow, real-time data synchronization, and complicated data transformations, will not be available to you.
Benefits of QuickBooks to SQL Server Connection
Here are some benefits of connecting QuickBooks to SQL Server:
- In QuickBooks to SQL Server connection, you can conveniently import data from SQL Server and perform various DML operations on it. This includes SQL objects, CSV files, and more.
- Within the Run logs, you can track the results of the Quickbooks SQL Server integration process for each run.
- Enables bi-directional data synchronization between QuickBooks to SQL Server data.
- QuickBooks to SQL Server performs regular synchronization and keeps track of changes at the source of the synced data.
- QuickBooks to SQL Server enables handy visual editors for fast data migration, allowing for precise mapping adjustment.
- Perform fast operations with data integration in simple GUI editors and wizards.
- This enables big data sharing to optimize CRM, ERP, and accounting data in databases.
- Activates data migration and data export from the accounting program to Microsoft Server.
Conclusion
QuickBooks generates a large amount of data; the existing data on the MS SQL Server database must be modified. This includes new and revised records, among other things. You will need to check QuickBooks regularly for changed data and, if necessary, replicate the process that was previously defined during data updating. To update the existing rows, UPDATE statements are generated.
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Share your experience on QuickBooks to SQL Server in the comments section below.
Davor is a data analyst at heart with a passion for data, software architecture, and writing technical content. He has experience writing more than 100 articles on data integration and infrastructure.