QuickBooks ODBC Driver Setup

Syntra ODBC is a QuickBooks Desktop ODBC driver with a built-in SQL server. The installer registers a System DSN named Syntra QuickBooks and installs a bundled 32-bit and 64-bit ODBC driver. After installation, any ODBC-capable application (Excel, Access, Crystal Reports, Power Query, custom .NET/VB.NET apps, and others) can query QuickBooks data through standard SQL with no extra DSN setup.

How it works

Syntra runs a local SQL server on port 5433. The bundled ODBC driver connects to that server. Everything stays on localhost unless you explicitly enable remote access in config.toml.

Quick start

If you installed Syntra with defaults, the DSN is already there. Open your application’s “Choose Data Source” dialog and pick Syntra QuickBooks. No further setup needed.

To confirm the DSN exists:

1. Press Win + R, type odbcad32, press Enter.
2. Under System DSN, look for Syntra QuickBooks. For 32-bit applications use C:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe — the 32-bit installer writes a matching entry there.

DSN-less (connection-string) connections

If you prefer a connection string (common with .NET / VB.NET code), reference the DSN by name:

DSN=Syntra QuickBooks

Or build a fully driver-based string without relying on the DSN:

Driver={Syntra ODBC - QuickBooks ODBC};Server=127.0.0.1;Port=5433;Database=qbconnect;Uid=qbconnect;Pwd=<your-password>;

The default credentials from config.example.toml are username qbconnect / password changeme. Change them in your production config.toml (under [auth]) before deploying. The database name is always qbconnect.

Creating a custom DSN

You normally don’t need to — the installer already puts one in place — but if you want a second DSN pointing at a different Syntra instance, or you want to change the data-source name:

1. Open ODBC Data Source Administrator (odbcad32 for 64-bit, C:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe for 32-bit).

2. Pick System DSN (visible to all users / services) or User DSN.

3. Click Add… and select Syntra ODBC - QuickBooks ODBC.

4. Fill in:

   Field	Value
   Data Source	any name you like
   Database	qbconnect
   Server	127.0.0.1
   Port	5433
   User Name	qbconnect
   Password	as configured

5. Click Test. You should see “Connection successful”.

Troubleshooting

• Syntra ODBC - QuickBooks ODBC not listed in the driver dropdown. The installer did not finish, or you’re on the 32-bit administrator looking for a 64-bit-only install (or vice versa). Re-run the installer and confirm both the HKLM\Software\ODBC\ODBCINST.INI\Syntra ODBC - QuickBooks ODBC (64-bit) and HKLM\Software\WOW6432Node\ODBC\ODBCINST.INI\Syntra ODBC - QuickBooks ODBC (32-bit) keys exist, or just run the installer as Administrator.
• Connection refused on port 5433. Syntra isn’t running. Launch the Syntra app or start the Windows service.
• FATAL: password authentication failed for user "qbconnect". The password in your connection string doesn’t match the one in config.toml under [auth]. Update one to match the other.
• Application is 32-bit (older Excel, Access 2010, some Crystal builds). Configure the DSN in the 32-bit administrator (C:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe). The 64-bit and 32-bit DSN lists are separate even though the installer populates both.
• SSL / TLS errors. By default Syntra listens plain-text on localhost. If you’ve enabled TLS in config.toml (tls_cert / tls_key), append SSLMode=require to the connection string.