Vista and 64 bit and QODBC Update

System Environment

• Operating system: Windows Vista 64 bit
• Software: QODBC version 10.0.0.265 (32 bit)
• QuickBooks Enterprise Solutions 9.0 (USA Version)

Summary about Using 32-bit ODBC driver on 64-bit platforms
On 64-bit platforms, 32-bit ODBC drivers are available to 32-bit applications, but not to 64-bit applications. What determines which ODBC driver architecture used is whether your application is 32-bit or 64-bit not whether your client platform (or database platform or DBMS) is 32-bit or 64-bit. Since QODBC is a 32-bit only ODBC driver, the only applications that can access it are 32-bit applications.

Installation and Configuration of 32 bit QODBC under 64 bit system
Before QODBC is installed
1.   Run the default system data source:
      Start -> Control Panel -> Performance and Maintenance -> Administrative Tools -> Data Source (ODBC) 
      There is only the default SQL Server driver in Windows Vista business 64 bit system:

2.   Run the 32 bit ODBC admin utility to see data source:   C:\windows\sysWOW64\odbcad32.exe
      There are many drivers of 32 bit programs but no OQDBC driver:

Install QODBC (Version 10.0.0.265)
1.   Click on qodbc icon to start the installation

2.   Install OQDBC step by step till it finished.

ODBC Driver situation after QODBC is installed
1.   Run the 32 bit ODBC admin utility: C:\windows\sysWOW64\odbcad32.exe again to see your new data source:-
     Choose “System DSN”, there is a QODBC driver for QuickBooks.

Test with QODBC installed
1.   To start using QODBC, you first need to run QuickBooks on your computer logged in the QuickBooks Administrator (Admin) and open your company file, or one of the sample company files that came with QuickBooks, as shown here. This is for security reasons.

2.   Run a VB Demo and create a new connection with the newly created data source “QuickBooks Data”.
Leaving your Sample QuickBooks company file open, click on "Start" and "All Programs" and locate the "QODBC Driver for QuickBooks" program group on your desktop. Click on the VB Demo shortcut to launch the Visual Basic Demo program supplied with QODBC.

To establish a connection: From the menu bar select "Connections" / "Add a new connection".

Select the "Machine Data Source" tab and "QuickBooks Data" System DSN, Click "OK”. This will connect you to the current company file opened in QuickBooks.

QuickBooks Integrated Applications with No Certificate
When QODBC starts and connects to a company file for the first time, QuickBooks will ask you permission for this driver to access your QuickBooks data. Check the "Yes, always; allow acess even if QuickBooks is not running" option and the QODBC driver will be added to the Integrated Application list in your company file. Click on [  Continue....  ] to continue.

Confirm that you want to allow this access by clicking on "Yes". This will allow applications to integrate with QuickBooks data when QuickBooks is running on the desktop.

QuickBooks will then confirm access, click on [  Done  ] to continue.

Testing Your Connection
Now that you have successfully established a connection to your QuickBooks data, it's time to type in your desired SQL query, for example your can use the default "SELECT * FROM Customer" or type in another table like stock by entering  "SELECT * FROM ItemInventory". Click on the "Query" button and the requested query results will appear! In case you're wondering, the * in the select statement means all columns in that Table. 

Alternatively, click on the "Tables" button to see a list of all the available QuickBooks tables. Double click on a table name to generate a query statement.

To disconnect, you can either select "Connections" / "Remove the connection" or Click the "Disconnect" button.

UAC and QODBC in 64 bit Windows Vista
UAC (User Account Control): is new technology in Windows Vista to improve system security which asks all users permission to run programs and tasks under a standard account module. It can prevent the installation of programs without authentication and can also prevent un-appropriate change of the system setup from a standard user.

1.   With UAC on:
(1) Login as Administrator.
(2) Start -> Control Panel -> User Account -> Open or Close “User Account Control” (UAC) -> check “Using User Account Control(UAC) to protect your computer”
(3) Run “QODBC Setup Screen” and you will see that the “Test Connection to QuickBooks” button is available for use.

 2.   With UAC off:
(1) Login as Administrator
(2) Start -> Control Panel -> User Account -> Open or Close“User Account Control”(UAC) -> uncheck Using User Account Control(UAC) to protect your computer”-> restart the computer
(3) Run “QODBC Setup Screen” and you will see that the “Test Connection to QuickBooks” button is greyed out and cannot be used.

(4) When connect to QuickBooks using the data source with UAC off, it pops out some errors:

To use QODBC you must be logged into Vista using a Standard login account and UAC must be on!