How to Query QuickBooks Data in MySQL Workbench

You can use the SQL Gateway from the ODBC Driver for QuickBooks to query QuickBooks data through a MySQL interface. Follow the procedure below to start the MySQL remoting service of the SQL Gateway and work with live QuickBooks data in MySQL Workbench.

Getting Started

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Connect to QuickBooks Data

If you have not already done so, provide values for the required connection properties in the data source name (DSN). You can use the built-in Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to configure the DSN. This is also the last step of the driver installation. See the "Getting Started" chapter in the help documentation for a guide to using the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure a DSN.

When you are connecting to a local QuickBooks instance, you do not need to set any connection properties.

Requests are made to QuickBooks through the Remote Connector. The Remote Connector runs on the same machine as QuickBooks and accepts connections through a lightweight, embedded Web server. The server supports SSL/TLS, enabling users to connect securely from remote machines.

The first time you connect, you will need to authorize the Remote Connector with QuickBooks. See the "Getting Started" chapter of the help documentation for a guide.

Configure the SQL Gateway

See the SQL Gateway Overview to set up connectivity to QuickBooks data as a virtual MySQL database. You will configure a MySQL remoting service that listens for MySQL requests from clients. The service can be configured in the SQL Gateway UI.

Query QuickBooks from MySQL Workbench

The steps below outline connecting to the virtual QuickBooks database created in the SQL Gateway from MySQL Workbench and issuing basic queries to work with live QuickBooks data.

Connect to QuickBooks through the SQL Gateway

1. In MySQL Workbench, click to add a new MySQL connection.
2. Name the connection (CData SQL Gateway for QuickBooks).
3. Set the Hostname, Port, and Username parameters to connect to the SQL Gateway.
4. Click Store in Vault to set and store the password.
5. Click Test Connection to ensure the connection is configured properly and click OK.

NOTE: When we refer to Username and Password, we mean the credentials for the user(s) created for the SQL Gateway.

Query QuickBooks Data

1. Open the connection you just created (CData SQL Gateway for QuickBooks).
2. Click File -> New Query Tab.
3. Write a SQL query to retrieve QuickBooks data, like SELECT * FROM `CData QuickBooks Sys`.Customers;

With access to live QuickBooks data from MySQL Workbench, you can easily query and update QuickBooks, just like you would a MySQL database. Get started now with a free, 30-day trial of the CData ODBC Driver for QuickBooks and the CData SQL Gateway.