How to Use QQube for QuickBooks

Modified on Sun, 26 Jul at 3:26 AM

QQube makes it easy to create reports in the application of your choice. Before building reports, it helps to understand what QuickBooks data is available, how data-entry procedures affect reporting, and how QQube organizes information into data models.

Data Availability

The Intuit Software Development Kit exposes most information stored in a QuickBooks company file. However, some information is unavailable because QuickBooks does not store the underlying relationship in its database.

For example, an item entered on a bill may initially be marked billable to a customer and later included on an invoice. QuickBooks stores that the item has been billed, but it does not store a direct link between the original bill and the resulting invoice.

For a complete list of known limitations, see QuickBooks Data Availability and Limits in QQube Desktop.

Data Entry Procedures

How information is entered in QuickBooks determines how easily it can be reported accurately and consistently.

For example, QuickBooks does not contain an intrinsic field that identifies all machinery costs for a particular job. You must establish a consistent method, such as using a specific item, sub-item, account, or sub-account. Reusing the same item and changing only its description makes reliable reporting difficult because the required value is embedded in unstructured text.

Reporting Principle

Use consistent QuickBooks fields and lists for information that must later be filtered, grouped, or summarized.

How QQube Data Models Work

A QQube data model is a complete cube of information covering a specific QuickBooks topic or business subject.

Data Model Type	Availability	Contents
Summary	All QuickBooks versions	Financial statement and trial balance data aggregated by month. The QQube Configuration Tool controls a 36-period range.
Summary	QuickBooks Enterprise only	Advanced Profit and Loss with Actual, Budget, and Forecast data aggregated by month. The QQube Configuration Tool controls a 36-period range. Flexible-period financial statements aggregated by day for any number of years. 52/53 Tax Year Profit and Loss statements based on a three-year calendar parameter configured in the QQube Configuration Tool.
Detail	All other QQube data models	Line-level transaction detail for subjects such as Sales, Job Cost Details, Inventory Management, and General Ledger Detail.

Each QQube data model is independent. Do not combine unrelated models unless the reporting requirement depends on a relationship that QuickBooks does not store directly. Those situations may require specific data-entry procedures and assistance from a QQube Certified Solution Provider.

Learn more in What a Data Model is in QQube Data Warehouse for QuickBooks.

Before You Begin

1. Confirm a Successful Synchronization

Verify that the required data model loaded without errors in the QQube Configuration Tool. A grayed-out analytic indicates that the data model was not loaded or that a synchronization error occurred.

Review Data Synch Logs before continuing.

2. Open an Excel Example

Open one of the examples listed in the QQube Configuration Tool. Then use the Select Assistant on the Excel Add-In to become familiar with how the fields are organized.

QQube Configuration Tool showing the available reporting examples

Included Examples

QQube includes more than 240 examples. One or more examples are available for each data model across Excel, PowerPivot, Power BI, Crystal Reports, Access, and Tableau.

Why Start with Excel

Excel may not be the final application used for your reports or visualizations. It is still the best place to begin for three reasons:

Use drag-and-drop features to become familiar with the organization of each data model.
Use Bubble Text to learn about field values and intended usage.
For advanced reporting, review the manual SQL queries generated through the Excel Add-In, which acts as a front end for MSQuery.

QQube Excel Add-In tools used to explore fields and build reports

Expected Result

You should now have a successfully loaded QQube data model, an example report open in Excel, and a basic understanding of how QuickBooks data availability and data-entry procedures affect reporting.