QODBC Versions
Overview
We have two flavors of the QODBC product – the desktop version is used by one machine – and the Server/Terminal edition is used on a machine built to serve multiple users via different channels. The server edition works with standard products a PC desktop would use like Microsoft Office, or it can use web server tools to let users in remote locations see the data in the browser, web-based applications for business intelligence and dashboards, and SQL server database type tools are typical server applications that can talk to our QODBC product in the server edition. The cost difference is because of what is possible on a server machine compared to what is possible on a normal desktop PC.
QODBC Desktop Edition
The desktop user can choose Read Only and Read/Write versions depending on the need. The Read Only edition allows you to display live QuickBooks data in your Windows application, but does not allow changing of data in QuickBooks. The Read/Write edition, allows changing of QuickBooks data.
QODBC Desktop Read-Only Edition
This license is specifically designed for interactive desktop applications. This is the “viewer” tier. It is the most restrictive but also the most cost-effective if your only goal is data analysis and visualization.
- Reporting Tools: This is perfect for users who live in Crystal Reports, Power BI, or Excel (Power Query) and simply need to refresh spreadsheets with the latest numbers.
- Data Integrity: This license provides peace of mind for administrators because it lacks “Write” capabilities; there is zero risk of a user accidentally deleting a transaction or altering a ledger entry.
QODBC Desktop Read-Write Edition
This license is specifically designed for interactive desktop applications where you need to both pull information out and push new information in.
- Writing Data Back: This allows you to perform INSERT and UPDATE commands. For example, creating a new Invoice from an Excel macro or updating customer addresses via a Programming script/language.
- Custom Applications: If you are a developer writing a standalone .exe or a script in VBA or Access needs to modify QuickBooks records, this license provides the necessary write permissions.
- Bi-Directional Sync: It is ideal for tools that act as “connectors,” syncing data between a CRM and QuickBooks.
Here are just some of the exciting features of using QODBC Desktop Edition (Read-Only and Read-Write):
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Super Speed with Optimizer Technology QODBC now optimizes your QuickBooks data the first time you use a company file, making future requests super fast. Get your work done in one tenth the time of previous versions and faster than any other SDK application.
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Access the Transaction Core of QuickBooks Accounting Data such as Invoices, Bills, Purchase Orders, Checks, Credit Memos, Estimates, Payments, Sales, Employee Time Tracking. Over 153 tables available!*
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Generate Powerful QuickBooks Reports in your own applications such as Details on AR & AP, Aging Reports, Balance Sheet, Collections, Transaction Detail, 1099 Detail, Customer Balance Detail, Estimates, Expenses, General Ledger, Income Detail, Tax Detail, Inventory Detail, Item Profitability, Inventory Status & Valuation, Job Profitability, Open Invoices, Profit and Loss, Open PO’s Sales by Customer, Sales Tax, Time by Job Trial Balance, Vendor Balance Detail & Summary. Over 93 reports available!*
- Free installation support for 30 days.
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Generate your own income by creating applications using the QODBC OEM Program at greatly reduced costs!
QODBC Server/Terminal Edition
QODBC works by accepting SQL (structured query language) commands from applications through the ODBC interface, then converts those calls to navigational XML commands, passing them to the QuickBooks SDK for processing and then returning recordsets that qualify for the query results.
This license is specifically designed for environments where the application runs in the background without a persistent user interface or as a multi-user web platform.
- SQL Server (Linked Servers): If you want to connect QuickBooks to SQL Server to perform joins between your accounting data and other business data, the “Server” edition is required to handle the service-level permissions.
- Web Servers (IIS, Apache): If you are building a web portal (using PHP, .NET, or Python/Django) where users log in via a browser to see QuickBooks data, this is the necessary tier.
- ETL Tools/ Windows Services: If you are building a data warehouse or using ETL tools where the application will be running as a Windows service, this is the necessary tier.
Windows Services: Any application that runs as a background service (starting automatically when the computer boots, even if no user is logged in) requires this edition because it can handle the non-interactive desktop session requirements of QuickBooks.
This driver is not a Client/Server product, or a direct database access tool because that method is prohibited by Intuit, but rather communicates directly with the QuickBooks application as it runs.
The Server Edition of QODBC is not a multi-user environment per se where you would install it on a server and every workstation has access to it, nor would it be required if you’re simply using the QuickBooks Database Server Manager. QODBC is normally a client side product that would reside on the workstations with QuickBooks and the application it is to be used with.
Those using Multi-User products such as Terminal Services or Citrix to allow multiple users to use a single copy of QODBC on a server should be using the Server/Terminal Edition of QODBC.
Our Server/Terminal Edition of QODBC will allow you to set up a Web Server and use any web tool you wish to use (PHP, ASP, ADO, Cold Fusion) to access data live from QuickBooks via ODBC without conversion in real time. If your customers need to know what’s in stock right now or you need to know Today’s sales while out of the office, then this is the product for you!
The Server/Terminal Edition also works with data server applications running on Windows 2003 Server, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows NT Server, such as Microsoft SQL Server. The Desktop Edition is not designed to handle multiple threads and communications from a protected background server process, but the Server Edition can operate in this mode.
To use QODBC with your service-based applications, you need to connect to the QRemote Client DSN
QuickBooks SDK requires an active desktop session (someone to be logged in) to the machine because QuickBooks is a desktop-based application.
The Terminal/Server Edition would also be used in conjunction with QRemote in an environment where QuickBooks and the company file reside on the server and the workstations have the application but not a copy of QuickBooks on them, thus allowing remote data sharing.
Please contact one of our sales team to discuss your requirements further
Since you are about to install a ODBC driver, you will need administrative privileges to perform the installation. If you are logged on to a user account, log off and log on to an account with administrative privileges before downloading and installing these products. Read more 