Programming

Node.js + QuickBooks Desktop

Connect your Node.js application to QuickBooks Desktop using the pg package. Build APIs, integrations, and automations with real accounting data.

Using TypeScript? The @syntraodbc/client package gives you full IntelliSense on every QuickBooks table and column with zero configuration.
TypeScript SDK

Quick Start

  1. Install Syntra ODBC and ensure the server is running on localhost:5433.
  2. Install the pg package. Run npm install pg in your project.
  3. Create a connection pool pointing to localhost:5433.
  4. Query any QuickBooks table with standard SQL.

Connection Pool Setup

Use a connection pool for efficient resource management:

// db.js
import pg from "pg";

const pool = new pg.Pool({
  host: "localhost",
  port: 5433,
  database: "quickbooks",
  user: "qbconnect",
  password: process.env.SYNTRA_PASSWORD, // from config.toml
  max: 10,
});

export default pool;

Querying Customers

Use async/await with parameterized queries:

import pool from "./db.js";

async function getActiveCustomers(minBalance = 0) {
  const { rows } = await pool.query(
    `SELECT
       list_id,
       full_name,
       email,
       phone,
       balance
     FROM customers
     WHERE is_active = true
       AND balance >= $1
     ORDER BY balance DESC`,
    [minBalance]
  );

  return rows;
}

// Usage
const customers = await getActiveCustomers(500);
console.log(`Found ${customers.length} customers with balance >= $500`);
customers.forEach((c) => {
  console.log(`  ${c.full_name}: $${c.balance}`);
});

Express API Example

Expose QuickBooks data through a REST API:

import express from "express";
import pool from "./db.js";

const app = express();

app.get("/api/customers", async (req, res) => {
  try {
    const { rows } = await pool.query(
      "SELECT list_id, full_name, email, balance FROM customers WHERE is_active = true"
    );
    res.json(rows);
  } catch (err) {
    console.error("Query failed:", err.message);
    res.status(500).json({ error: "Failed to fetch customers" });
  }
});

app.get("/api/customers/:id", async (req, res) => {
  const { rows } = await pool.query(
    "SELECT * FROM customers WHERE list_id = $1",
    [req.params.id]
  );
  if (rows.length === 0) return res.status(404).json({ error: "Not found" });
  res.json(rows[0]);
});

app.listen(3000, () => console.log("API running on :3000"));

Tips

  • ✓ Always use parameterized queries ($1, $2). Never string-concatenate user input into SQL.
  • ✓ Store credentials in environment variables, not in source code.
  • ✓ Set max on the pool to control concurrent connections to Syntra.
  • ✓ For TypeScript, install @types/pg for full type definitions.

Full reference: Node.js docs →

Build Node.js apps with QuickBooks data

Download Syntra ODBC and start querying in minutes.

Download Free Trial