Firebird ODBC Installation & Setup

Fishbowl Inventory runs on a database management system called Firebird. Firebird has an ODBC Driver (Open Database Connectivity) that allows other programs like UPS WorldShip to connect with the Fishbowl Inventory database.

Server Installation & Setup

Below are the instructions for installing the Firebird/Interbase Driver on a server. You should also read through the instructions for a client setup.

Downloading the ODBC Driver

1. The Firebird/Interbase Driver (ODBC Driver) is available free to download.
   • Choose the appropriate file for your operating system, usually Version 1.2, Windows Full Install.
   • If you are unable to download this file, contact Fishbowl Inventory Technical Support and they can email the installation file to you.

Installing the ODBC Driver

1. Run or Open the installation. The default installation settings should be sufficient.
2. Once the installation is complete, the Firebird/Interbase Driver will be added in the ODBC Data Source Administrator utility. You can confirm that it was installed by opening this utility (go to: Start | Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Data Sources) and clicking on the Drivers tab (shown below).

Firebird ODBC Setup

1. Open the Control Panel, go to Administrative Tools | Data Sources (ODBC)
2. Click the System DSN tab. Click Add.
3. Select the Firebird/Interbase driver. Click Finish.

A new "FireBird ODBC Setup" window will appear. Enter the following information in the appropriate fields (shown below). The fields are case sensitive.

• Data Source Name (DSN): Fishbowl
• Driver: IscDbc
• Database: This is the location of your company's Fishbowl database. For example: "localhost:C:\Program Files\Fishbowl\database\data\Your Database.FDB". Change "Your Database" to match the name of your database file or browse for the file.
• Client: C:\Program Files\Fishbowl\database\data\fbclient.dll is the location of the fbclient.dll if you installed Fishbowl in the default location.
• Database Account: GONE
• Password: fishing
• All Other Fields: No change necessary

Finally, click "Test Connection" to ensure you are connected to your database. Click "OK" to close.

For applications like UPS WorldShip, you will need to install the software and copy over the integration files to the appropriate directories before you can connect with Fishbowl Inventory. Training Videos are provided below to help walk you through this process.

• How to setup Firebird ODBC Client Installation
• View the UPS WorldShip training video for more information on setting-up.
• View the FedEX training video for more information on setting-up.
• Download this training as a PDF.