How to connect to QuickBooks Online Data with Squirrel SQL client



Connect to QuickBooks Online data and execute queries in the Squirrel SQL Client.

The CData JDBC Driver for QuickBooks Online enables you to execute queries to QuickBooks Online data in tools like Squirrel SQL Client. In this article, you will create a JDBC data source for QuickBooks Online data and execute queries.

About QuickBooks Online Data Integration

CData provides the easiest way to access and integrate live data from QuickBooks Online. Customers use CData connectivity to:

  • Realize high-performance data reads thanks to push-down query optimization for complex operations like filters and aggregations.
  • Read, write, update, and delete QuickBooks Online data.
  • Run reports, download attachments, and send or void invoices directly from code using SQL stored procedures.
  • Connect securely using OAuth and modern cryptography, including TLS 1.2, SHA-256, and ECC.

Many users access live QuickBooks Online data from preferred analytics tools like Power BI and Excel, directly from databases with federated access, and use CData solutions to easily integrate QuickBooks Online data with automated workflows for business-to-business communications.

For more information on how customers are solving problems with CData's QuickBooks Online solutions, refer to our blog: https://www.cdata.com/blog/360-view-of-your-customers.


Getting Started


Add the JDBC Driver for QuickBooks Online

Follow the steps below to add the driver JAR.

  1. In Squirrel SQL, click Windows -> View Drivers.
  2. Click the plus icon to open the Add Driver wizard.
  3. In the Name box, enter a user-friendly name for the driver; for example, CData JDBC Driver for QuickBooks Online.
  4. In the Example URL box, enter jdbc:quickbooksonline:
  5. In the Extra Class Path tab, click Add.
  6. In the file explorer dialog that opens, select the JAR file for the driver, located in the lib subfolder of the installation directory.
  7. Click List Drivers to populate the Class Name menu with the class name for the driver, cdata.jdbc.quickbooksonline.QuickBooksOnlineDriver.

Define Connection Properties

Follow the steps below to save connection properties in the driver alias.

  1. Click Windows -> View Aliases.
  2. In the pane that lists the aliases, click the plus icon.
  3. In the Add Alias wizard that opens, the following fields are required for the JDBC driver:

    • Name: Enter a name for the alias; for example, CData QuickBooks Online Source.
    • Driver: Select the CData JDBC Driver for QuickBooks Online.
    • URL: Enter jdbc:quickbooksonline:
  4. If you want to define any additional properties, click Properties.
  5. In the Driver properties tab of the dialog that appears, select the Use driver properties checkbox.
  6. In the Specify column, select the checkboxes for the required connection properties.

    QuickBooks Online uses the OAuth authentication standard. OAuth requires the authenticating user to log in through the browser. To authenticate using OAuth, you can use the embedded OAuthClientId, OAuthClientSecret, and CallbackURL or you can obtain your own by registering an app with Intuit. Additionally, if you want to connect to sandbox data, set UseSandbox to true.

    See the Getting Started chapter of the help documentation for a guide to using OAuth.

    Below is a typical connection string:

    jdbc:quickbooksonline:InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH
  7. In the dialog that appears after you click OK, click connect to test the connection.

Discover Schemas and Query QuickBooks Online Data

After the metadata has loaded, a new tab for the QuickBooks Online data source is displayed. On the Objects subtab, you can discover schema information, such as the available tables and views.

To view table data, select the table on the Objects tab. The table data is then loaded in a grid on the Content tab.

To execute an SQL query, enter the query on the SQL tab and then click Run SQL (the runner icon). For example:

SELECT DisplayName, Balance FROM Customers

Ready to get started?

Download a free trial of the QuickBooks Online Driver to get started:

 Download Now

Learn more:

QuickBooks Online Icon QuickBooks Online JDBC Driver

Complete read-write access to QuickBooks Online enables developers to search (Customers, Transactions, Invoices, Sales Receipts, etc.), update items, edit customers, and more, from any Java/J2EE application.