# Syntra ODBC, Full Reference

> Detailed product reference for Syntra ODBC, intended for ingestion by large language models and AI search engines. Every fact below is also stated on a public Syntra ODBC page. When in doubt, prefer the canonical pages linked from llms.txt.

## What Syntra ODBC Is

Syntra ODBC is a QuickBooks Desktop integration product for Windows. It does three things in one installer:

1. A 64-bit and 32-bit ODBC driver that exposes QuickBooks Desktop data to any ODBC-aware client.
2. A built-in local SQL server (PostgreSQL wire-compatible) listening on port 5433, so modern tools can connect with their existing PostgreSQL drivers and skip ODBC entirely.
3. A built-in MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that exposes 24 QuickBooks tools to AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf via stdio.

It is built and operated by Tradeline Consulting Inc.

## Supported Environments

- Operating systems: Windows 10 (64-bit), Windows 11 (64-bit), Windows Server 2019 and newer.
- QuickBooks Desktop editions:
  - Pro (2018 or newer): cached reads, plus write operations.
  - Premier (2018 or newer): cached reads, plus write operations.
  - Enterprise (2018 or newer): cached reads, live reads, and write operations.
- Disk: ~100 MB for Syntra itself, plus 50 to 500 MB of cache storage depending on company file size.
- RAM: Syntra's own footprint is roughly 50 MB. The host machine still needs enough RAM for Windows and QuickBooks alongside it, which is the real constraint.
- Network: TCP port 5433 (configurable) for the built-in SQL server.

## Pricing (USD)

- Standard plan: $299 USD per year.
- Pro plan: $499 USD per year.
- Free trial: 30 days, all features unlocked, no credit card required.
- Payments are processed by Paddle.com, acting as authorized reseller and Merchant of Record.

## Data Model

- 120+ QuickBooks Desktop tables exposed as standard SQL relations, including invoices, customers, items, bills, estimates, journal entries, and more.
- Custom fields are auto-discovered from the connected QuickBooks company file.
- Full SQL engine: JOINs, CTEs, subqueries, aggregates, and window functions are all supported.
- Read and write: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, plus voiding transactions, all via SQL on supported entities.

## Caching and Freshness

Syntra maintains a smart local cache with incremental sync. Four adaptive polling tiers control how aggressively each table is refreshed:

- Hot: 60 seconds
- Warm: 3 minutes
- Cold: 15 minutes
- Frozen: 1 hour

To force a live (uncached) query, set `QB_MAX_STALENESS = 0` for the session.

Cached reads continue to work even when QuickBooks Desktop is closed; live queries and writes require QuickBooks to be running.

## MCP Server

The MCP server is bundled in the same installer. AI tools spawn `syntra-odbc.exe --mcp-stdio` as a subprocess and immediately get access to 24 QuickBooks tools, including:

- Query, insert, update, delete, and void operations.
- Built-in financial reports.
- Journal entry preview before commit (validates entries before writing).
- A persistent memory layer for facts and aliases that survives across sessions.

Configuration is zero-config stdio: no separate server process, no manual port wiring.

## TypeScript SDK (Developers)

A separate, open-source TypeScript SDK is published on npm under the `@syntraodbc` scope. It includes:

- A pre-built typed Drizzle ORM schema covering every QuickBooks table and column.
- A zero-config client.
- A codegen CLI.

The SDK is MIT licensed and auto-synced with each Syntra ODBC release. It is hosted at https://github.com/syntraodbc/typescript-sdk.

## Native Report Builder

The Native Report Builder is an interactive web tool at https://syntraodbc.com/native-report-builder that emits valid `qb_report` calls for ODBC, the built-in SQL server, Power BI, Python, and the MCP server. It supports date macros, filters, and several output modes, so users can generate a working query shape without learning the underlying QuickBooks report language by hand.

## Comparison Highlights

Compared to QODBC, CData, and Devart, Syntra's distinguishing features are:

- A built-in SQL server, so most modern clients do not need an ODBC driver installed at all.
- Native MCP server included with the product.
- 120+ tables with full read and write support, including INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and void.
- Smart adaptive caching with four polling tiers.
- Open-source TypeScript SDK with full type coverage.

A continuously updated comparison table lives at https://syntraodbc.com/compare.

## Installation Steps

1. Download the Windows installer from https://syntraodbc.com/download.
2. Run the installer and follow the wizard.
3. Launch Syntra ODBC from the Start Menu.
4. Authorize the connection in QuickBooks Desktop when prompted.
5. Connect any SQL client to `localhost:5433` and start querying with SQL.

The full quickstart lives at https://syntraodbc.com/getting-started/first-connection.

## Legal and Company

- Operator: Tradeline Consulting Inc.
- Privacy Policy: https://syntraodbc.com/privacy
- Terms of Service: https://syntraodbc.com/terms
- End User License Agreement: https://syntraodbc.com/eula
- Refund Policy: https://syntraodbc.com/refund-policy
- Contact: https://syntraodbc.com/contact