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Connect QuickBooks Data to Claris FileMaker via ESS using an ODBC Driver and the CData SQL Gateway
Connect to your QuickBooks data using the ESS feature of Claris FileMaker with MySQL ODBC driver and CData SQL Gateway.
Claris FileMaker is a low-code platform that enables users to quickly create custom apps to manage and automate data workflows. Using the CData ODBC Driver for QuickBooks and the CData SQL Gateway, FileMaker connects to QuickBooks data through its ESS (External SQL Source) feature, allowing you to work with QuickBooks records as if they were native FileMaker tables.
In this article, we configure and use the CData ODBC Driver for QuickBooks and the CData SQL Gateway, along with the MySQL ODBC Driver, to connect to QuickBooks data using the ESS functionality in FileMaker.
About QuickBooks Data Integration
CData simplifies access and integration of live QuickBooks data. Our customers leverage CData connectivity to:
- Access both local and remote company files.
- Connect across editions and regions: QuickBooks Premier, Professional, Enterprise, and Simple Start edition 2002+, as well as Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and UK editions from 2003+.
- Use SQL stored procedures to perform actions like voiding or clearing transactions, merging lists, searching entities, and more.
Customers regularly integrate their QuickBooks data with preferred tools, like Power BI, Tableau, or Excel, and integrate QuickBooks data into their database or data warehouse.
Getting Started
Create an ODBC Data Source for QuickBooks
If you have not already, first specify connection properties in an ODBC DSN (data source name). This is the last step of the driver installation. You can use the Microsoft ODBC Data Source Administrator to create and configure ODBC DSNs.
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, authorize the Remote Connector with QuickBooks. See the "Getting Started" chapter of the help documentation for a guide.
When you configure the DSN, you may also want to set the Max Rows connection property. This will limit the number of rows returned, which is especially helpful for improving performance when designing reports and visualizations.
Configuring the CData SQL Gateway
The CData SQL Gateway bridges non-SQL data sources (like SaaS applications, APIs, and NoSQL databases) with SQL-based tools (like FileMaker, MySQL clients, and BI tools).
In simple terms, it exposes any CData driver-supported source - for example, QuickBooks - as a standard MySQL or SQL Server endpoint.
See the SQL Gateway Overview to set up QuickBooks data connectivity as a virtual MySQL database. Set up a MySQL remoting service that listens for MySQL requests from clients, and configure the service through the SQL Gateway UI (as shown below). Save the user credentials (Username and Password) for future use.
Once you establish the connection, you can use the CData SQL Gateway to access QuickBooks data through the MySQL protocol.
Installing the MySQL ODBC Driver
Follow the steps below to install and configure the MySQL ODBC Driver:
- Download and install the latest 64-bit Windows version of the MySQL ODBC Unicode Driver from this link.
- Launch ODBC Data Sources (64-bit) from Windows search. Open the System DSN tab, click Add, select MySQL ODBC Unicode Driver from the Create New Data Source window, and click Finish.
- Enter the following connection details in the MySQL Connector/ODBC Data Source Configuration window:
- Data Source Name: Enter a DSN of your choice
- TCP/IP Server: localhost
- Port: Enter the port set in the SQL Gateway (for this procedure, use "3307")
- User: Enter the username set in the CData SQL Gateway
- Password: Enter the password set in the CData SQL Gateway
- Database: CData QuickBooks Sys
- Click Test to verify that the "Connection Successful" dialog box appears. Then click OK to save the configuration details.
You have now successfully configured the MySQL ODBC Driver.
Use FileMaker ESS function to load QuickBooks data
In this section, we explore how to use the ESS (External SQL Source) feature to retrieve data in the FileMaker application. Follow the given steps to complete the process:
- Open FileMaker Pro. Navigate to Create from the left panel and select Blank > Create.
- Enter a desired filename and click Save.
- In Manage Database, remove the Tables and Fields from the respective tabs. Select the Relationships tab and click Add Table.
- In Specify Table, expand the Data Source dropdown menu and select Add ODBC Data Source. Click OK.
- In Select ODBC Data Source, select the previously configured MySQL ODBC driver and click Continue.
- In the Edit Data Source window, enter the following details:
- Name: This field will be auto-filled. Enter a new name of choice if necessary.
- Type: Select "ODBC".
- Under Authentication, select the Specify username and password radio button and enter the following details:
- User name: Enter the username set in the CData SQL Gateway.
- Password: Enter the password set in the CData SQL Gateway.
- Catalog Name: CData QuickBooks Sys
- Click OK.
- View the tables from QuickBooks populated under the Data Source section. Select the table of your choice and click OK.
- The Relationships tab now displays the selected table and its metadata. Click OK.
- Select the table from the Layout dropdown. The QuickBooks table data appears on the screen. (As shown)
Get Started Today
Download a free 30-day trial of CData ODBC Driver for QuickBooks to integrate QuickBooks data into Claris FileMaker and use QuickBooks data in your FileMaker applications.
Contact our Support Team if you have any questions.
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QuickBooks ODBC Driver
The QuickBooks ODBC Driver is a powerful tool that allows you to connect with live data from QuickBooks directly from any applications that support ODBC connectivity.
Access QuickBooks data like you would a database - read, write, and update Customers, Transactions, Invoices, Sales Receipts, etc. through a standard ODBC Driver interface.
