Automate Label Printing

Help Table of Contents

Below is a screen shot of the Automation Dialog.

Understanding the Shipping Rules example shown above

The first line in the shipping rules list specifies that if the package is shipped to any of the following states, PA, NY, IN, NC, MA, ME, MD, CT, DE, NJ, OH, RI, VT, DC, IL, then ship by UPS Ground.  The second line in the shipping rules list specifies that if the package is shipped to any of the following states, CA, WA, OR, AZ, HI, ID, FL, NV, TX, UT,  then ship by UPS 3-Day Select.  The third line in the shipping rules list specifies that if the weight of the package is less than or equal to 2.8 pounds, ship by UPS 3-Day Select. The fourth line in the shipping rules list specifies that if the weight of the package is more than  7.8 pounds and less than or equal to 15.5 pounds, ship by UPS GROUND.  The last line in the shipping rules list specifies the default shipping method to be UPS Ground.  This means that if the shipping rules in lines one through four of the shipping rules list do not match the package, ship by UPS Ground, the default choice. The automation software will print a label based on the first shipping rule that matches the package, starting from the top of the shipping rules list. For this reason, it is best to put rules based on destination state at the top of the list. If you do not put shipping rules based on destination state at the top of the list, the package may match a shipping rule based on its weight.  Below, shown in bold are the service types to use in the shipping rules list. 

Service Types

• 3DAY - UPS 3 Day Select
• 2DAY - UPS 2nd Day Air
• GROUND - UPS Ground
• ON10:30 - UPS Next Day Air 10:30am
• 2DAY10:30 - UPS 2nd Day Air 10:30am
• ON3:00 - UPS Next Day Air Saver 3:00pm
• ON8:00 - UPS Next Day Air Early 8:00am

Creating Shipping Rules

Shipping rules are typed into the file shipping_rules.txt which is located in the dist folder of the shiping application. The file will contain some example rules that you can change to fit your business needs.  You can use either Notepad or WordPad to edit the shipping_rules.txt file.  After entering your shipping rules, you will need to restart the shipping application to read in the new shipping rules.

Shipping Rules by State

Example:

state PA NY IN NC MA ME MD CT DE NJ OH RI VT DC IL : UPS GROUND

To create a shipping rule based on state, start the line with the word state. Following the word state should be one space followed by the two letter abbreviation of the first state for this rule.  Next should be one space, followed by the next two letter abbreviation of a state.  Following the last state in the rule, should be one space followed by : Next should be one space followed by the carrier UPS. Next should be one space, followed by the shipping service for the rule.

Shipping Rules based on Weight

Example 1:

weight <= 2.0 UPS 3DAY

To create a shipping rule based on weight, start the line with the word weight.  Following the word weight should be one space followed by either the less than operator < or the less than or equal to operator <=, followed by one space and then the weight in pounds. Next should be one space followed by the carrier UPS. Next should be one space, followed by the shipping service for the rule.

Example 2:

2.8 < weight <= 10.5 UPS GROUND

To create a shipping rule based on a weight range, start the line with a weight in pounds.  Following the weight should be one space followed by either the less than operator < or the less than or equal to operator <=, followed by one space and then the word weight. Next should be one space followed by either the less than operator < or the less than or equal to operator <=. Next should be one space followed by the carrier UPS. Next should be one space, followed by the shipping service for the rule.

Default Shipping Rule

Example:

default UPS GROUND

To create a default shipping rule, start the line with the word default. Following the word default should be one space followed by the carrier UPS. Next should be one space, followed by the shipping service for the rule.  The default shipping rule should be the last rule in the shipping rules list.