Import and Export Tracking Data Using Postal Package Partner

While the Order Manager supports automatically importing tracking numbers from many commonly used shipping programs including Postal Package Partner (PPP), you also have the option of importing tracking information from PPP in the form of a comma-delimited (.csv) text file. Refer to the vendor's documentation for more information about PPP.

  

This article outlines the steps necessary to export tracking information from PPP using both methods but it also provides direction for importing shipping information into PPP from the Order Manager.

 

Import Shipping Information into PPP from the Order Manager

  1. Open PPP.

  2. Click Import/Export>Import Data.

  3. Click Add to add a new import specification.

  4. Enter the following options:

    1. Import To PPP: Package

    2. Import Template Name: Enter a name which you will remember and recognize for use later.

    3. Import File Type: D (ASCII Delimited)

    4. Import File: Click the down arrow to locate the file that you designated as the export file in the Order Manager.

    5. Delimiter: Tab

    6. Click in the Skip First Record On Import button.

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  1. Using the Assign button, match the PPP fields to the corresponding fields in the Order Manager text file to create an import map. Your mapping should resemble the screen shot below:

 

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  1. Click OK. The setup is finished. You return to the Import Data window which you can use from this point forward to import your shipping information.

 

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Export Data from PPP to the Order Manager Using Package Information Logging

One of the most popular features offered by some shipping software products is the ability to create a real-time log file of all packages shipped. This allows them to import this file periodically into their system using a ’r;daemon’ so the information can be updated in close to real-time. They would typically rename the import the file which forces the Order Manager to create a new file the next time it creates a log record. Because multiple workstations may need to add data to this file at the same time, the file must open in shared mode which makes using a text file impossible. Instead, the Order Manager creates a dBase III file which is almost universally readable. When a record is saved, changed or deleted from our package file, we add a record to the end of the log file.

 

The process described above is accomplished using the Mailer Configuration feature.

 

Mailer Configuration Setup

Go to the Mailer Configuration area of PPP, select Advanced Setup and click the Enable Package Logging checkbox. Under the checkbox is a lookup button that allows you to select the path where the file shall be stored. Select a path. Enter the file name as PPPShips.DBF.

 

Go to the Maintenance Menu in the Order Manager and click on the Import PPP Tracking #'s button.

Note: This process may seem slow because the Order Manager must search your computer for the PPPShips.DBF file.

 

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Export Data from PPP to the Order Manager Using .CSV Text Files

 

  1. Open PPP.

  2. Click Import/Export>Export Data.

  3. Click Add to add a new export specification.

  4. Enter an Export Name, e.g. Order Manager Export.

  5. Create a blank text file somewhere on your computer’s hard drive with a familiar name (i.e., ordermanexport.txt).  

  6. From the PPP Add Export Specification window, navigate to the text file you created in step 5.

  7. For File To Export, choose Package.

  8. Select the format as comma-delimited with no text qualifier.

  9. Select the fields you wish to include in the export file. You must export the Order No. field; this is the order number used to identify each shipment in the Order Manager. Make note of the order in which you are placing the fields in the export file; you will need to know the order of the fields to set system parameters in the Order Manager.

 

When complete, the configuration of your export file should resemble the image below:

 

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Set System Parameters

  1. Go to the Main Menu>Maintenance Menu>Maintenance tab>Set System Parameters button or Quick Clicks>System Parameters.

  2. Click on the Shipping parameter group.

  3. Specify the order in which each of the fields listed below appear in the export file:

For example, in the image above, the Date of Mailing is the 5th field therefore the TrackingDateField system parameter should be set to 5.

  1. To import tracking numbers, click Import .csv Tracking #'s on the Shipping & Fulfillment tab of the Maintenance Menu and choose the export text file you created in step 5 above.

 

 

See Also

 

Exporting Shipping Data to Text Files

Importing Tracking Numbers (.csv or .txt)

Modified 12/24/09