Getting Started:Integrating Fishbowl with QuickBooks

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User Manual | Getting started | Fishbowl and QuickBooks Integration

[edit] Integrating Fishbowl with QuickBooks

The Accounting Configuration Wizard integrates QuickBooks and Fishbowl together, which allows the ability to import and export between the two softwares. It also guides you through selecting accounts and importing data from QuickBooks into Fishbowl. The following steps will help with a successful integration:

1. You will need to have QuickBooks 2007 or later (if you are using Fishbowl version 5.0 or newer) and a complete install of Fishbowl (server and client) installed on your server computer.

2. Log into your Fishbowl client on the server computer as admin as well as QuickBooks in single user mode as admin.

3. In Fishbowl, Go to the Accounting Module Group | Accounting Module. Click on the Accounting Configuration Wizard.

4. A Setup Integration Wizard will be displayed. Assuming your QuickBooks is currently open and connected to the correct database, select the option to 'use the file currently opened in QuickBooks.' If you wish to connect to a QuickBooks datafile in a different location, choose Browse to select your desired QB file. Click Next.

5. The next screen will show a set of Instructions that will be helpful during the integration. In these set of instructions is a list of the accounts that will need to be mapped for the integration as well as some recommendations for mapping of the accounts. Click Next.

6. The next screen will show a red line that states, "Establishing a connection to QuickBooks....Please Wait..."

7. QuickBooks needs to give Fishbowl access to export. Therefore, at this point the very first time you try to integrate, QuickBooks will pop up a box warning you that Fishbowl is an Application with no Certificate. We recommend to select the option which states 'Yes, always allow access even if QuickBooks is not running' (this option means you will be able to export to QuickBooks without QuickBooks always having to be open on the same computer). Click Continue.

8. Another confirmation box will be displayed asking you to once more confirm access. Click Yes. If another Access Confirmation box is displayed click Done.

9. Fishbowl will reappear and you should see, in green writing, "The connection to QuickBooks succeeded. Press 'Next' to continue". If you see a list of red notices that the connection to QuickBooks was not establishe try clicking 'Back' on the browser and then click Next again. This will take you back to step 6; however this time QuickBooks will not ask for permission to grant Fishbowl access. Wait a few moments until you get the green connection that states, 'The connection to QuickBooks succeeded. If you receive a red connection error, you may also need to scroll to the bottom of the wizard to view the explanation for erroring. Press 'Next' to continue'.

10. The next screen will take you step-by-step on how to allow Fishbowl to login automatically. Make sure you create a new user called "Fishbowl", and assign FB to login as this Fishbowl user when it exports to QB. Click Next.

11. The next step will ask you to specify if you will be using Fishbowl default accounts or if you would like to choose from existing QuickBooks accounts. Using the Fishbowl default Accounts will create a default set of 23 accounts in QuickBooks, unless the account that Fishbowl needs to create is already in the list (the default will be what is listed in the instruction sheet in step 5). If you choose from existing QuickBooks accounts then you will be sent through the 23 accounts and asked to map each account to one of your QuickBooks accounts. Whether you choose Fishbowl default accounts or existing QuickBooks accounts, click Next when you are finished with your mapping. Note: You are allowed to go back at a later time and make account changes if necessary.

12. The last screen allows you to import in data from QuickBooks into Fishbowl. You may import in Company Information, Customers, Vendors, and Inventory. If you choose to import inventory into Fishbowl you may also choose a location for the inventory. Click Next to import in the data. After the import is complete click Finish.

13. You may click on the Accounting Module Group | Accounting Module. Click the Exportbutton to export items from Fishbowl into QuickBooks.