Error: Unable to connect to QuickBooks or a QuickBooks company file

When Zed Axis attempts to connect to QuickBooks or a QuickBooks company file you get an error message of "Unable to connect to QuickBooks" or "Please connect to a QuickBooks company file".

Please follow these steps to troubleshoot this issue:

Step One : Latest versions of QuickBooks and single installs

1. Ensure that you have QuickBooks installed, your company file open, and we recommend that you login to QuickBooks as the Administrator.
2. When promoted by QuickBooks give Axis permission to access the QuickBooks company file
3. Check that you meet the minimum systems requirements to use Zed Axis Zed Axis System Requirements.
4. If you are using Microsoft Vista or 7, please ensure that you have User Account Control  (UAC) set to On or Always Notify, and check that Zed Axis is running at the Admin permission level.

Step Two: Running multiple releases of QuickBooks on one machine
If you are running multiple releases of QuickBooks on the same machine ie (2008 & 2009, or Canada and UK) then you may have installed an older version after the latest release, if you have you will need to follow the instructions on this article to resolve this issue.

Step Three : Older versions of QuickBooks 
If you are using an older version of QuickBooks, then you may not be able to connect to QuickBooks.  To correct this issue follow these steps (Intuit Support have an alternative approach listed in here):

1. Login to QuickBooks and your company file as Administrator in single user mode
2. Select the company preferences Edit > Preferences > Integrated Applications > Company Preferences
3. For each application listed we are going to uncheck the ability to login automatically:
   1. Highlight the application and click the Properties tab
   2. Un-check the box which says "Allow this application to login automatically".
4. Restart QuickBooks and reset the login automatically mode and a user with sufficient permissions
5. Login again as Administrator in single user mode
6. Select the company preferences Edit > Preferences > Integrated Applications > Company Preferences
7. For each application listed:
   1. Highlight the application and click the Properties tab
   2. Check the box which says "Allow this application to login automatically" and select a user with admin permissions
8. Restart QuickBooks.

Step 4: Determine if the issue is a corrupt QuickBooks interface or Zed Axis

1. Download, install and run the SDK Diagnosis Tool to determine if the problem is QuickBooks or a Axis issue.
2. If you are unable to connect with the SDK Diagnosis Tool then it may be because your QuickBooks interface files may have been overwritten, please follow these instructions to clean up your installation.
3. If you are still unable to connect then it is a problem with Axis please raise a ticket with support and include the following:
   1. The version of QuickBooks that you are using,
   2. The version of Zed Axis you are using.
   3. Attach the file called qbsdklog.txt it should be located in C:\ProgramData\Intuit\QuickBook
   4. Attach the SDK Diagnosis Tool error report
   5. The error message you are receiving and we will endeavour to correct this as soon as possible.

Troubleshooting Specific QuickBooks Error codes:

0x80040404 - indicates that the version of QuickBooks currently running does not support the QuickBooks SDK
0x80040409 - indicates that the version of QuickBooks currently running cannot work with the provided data file
0x8004040A - indicates that the data file already open is different from the requested one.
0x80040154 & 0x800401f3- indicates a permission error to access QuickBooks via an application-

1. Turn off UAC or Reduce level to "Never Notify", (you can turn UAC back on once the connection is successfully established)
2. Go to into QuickBooks Preferences > Integrated Applications and remove Zed Axis from the list
3. Reboot windows
4. Open QuickBooks as Admin and open the company file you wish to connect to
5. Open Zed Axis and attempt to connect.