Setting Up and Using FedEx Ship Manager V7

In this Topic: Show

Overview

The FedEx Ship Manager software can be utilized with Stone Edge by means of an ODBC connection between the applications. This allows data to pass back and forth between the systems so that the user does not need to manually re-type shipping and tracking information. If you have multiple Order Manager store files, the steps outlined in this topic will have to be performed for each store file, and a different "Integration Profile" should also be created in Ship Manager.   

The user can request access to the Ship Manager software at the FedEx Web site, and must already have an established account with FedEx before installing the software and completing the registration process. For each Order Manager store file that is used, create a different "Integration Profile" in Ship Manager. The Integration Profile contains user preferences and field mapping information, as well as the correct ODBC connection to the Stone Edge store file.

The images for the FedEx Ship Manager may be slightly out of date, but should provide enough guidance for the user to follow the necessary steps to complete the integration process. If any customers that use FedEx Ship Manager would like to provide current screenshots of that software, we'd be glad to incorporate them into this topic. Contact techwriter@stoneedge.com.

SQL Store Data Files: Preliminary Setup Steps (Enterprise Edition only)

Enterprise users, whose Stone Edge store file is an SQL database, must perform some additional steps that are not required when an MS Access database is used.

If you are not an Enterprise user or do not use an SQL database, skip to MS Access Store Data File: Define an ODBC Connection and continue with those instructions.

Create an Intermediary Database and Link Tables from Stone Edge's Store File

  1. Launch Microsoft Access.

  2. Create a blank MS Access database (File>New>Blank Database) named OMExternalShipping.mdb, or something similar, in the C:\StoneEdge directory of the workstation where FedEx Ship Manager is installed.

  1. Open the newly created database and go to File>External Data>ODBC Database.

  1. Select Link to the data source by creating a linked table and select OK.  

  1. The Select Data Source dialog opens.

  1. Select the Machine Data Source tab and locate the System DSN for Stone Edge's store data file (which was created when the SQL database was converted from an MS Access database).

It should be noted that Stone Edge is a 32-bit application and an ODBC connection made through Stone Edge (Convert to SQL process, Worldship Setup function ) will not be visible via the default ODBC Data Source Administrator utility of a 64-bit Operating system. Refer to Knowledge Base topic, Windows 64-Bit Operating System Considerations, for instructions on locating the compatible 32-bit ODBC utility.

  1. Select the correct DSN and click OK.

  2. The Link Tables dialog opens.

  1. While holding either the Shift or Ctrl keys down, select the tables, dbo.Orders and dbo.ShippingMethods, and click OK.

  2. The OMExternalShipping: Database screen appears, showing the linked tables.

Import the Shipping Information Query (WorldshipOrdersSQL) into the Intermediary Database

Although, the shipping information query has "Worldship" in it's name, this same query is also used for any external shipping software package that supports the use of an ODBC connection, such as FedEx Ship Manager or DHL DBConnect, etc.  

  1. From the MS Access menu (not pictured), select File>External Data>Import & Link>Access.

  1. Select Browse and navigate to Stone Edge's program file (SEOrdMan.mdb).

  1. Select Browse and navigate to Stone Edge's program file (SEOrdMan.mdb).

  1. Select Import tables, queries, forms, reports, macros, and modules into the current database. Select OK.

  2. The Import Objects dialog opens, select the Queries tab.

  1. Select WorldshipOrdersSQL, and click OK.

  2. If you want to Save the Import Steps, select that box.

  1. Select Close.

  2. The WorldshipOrdersSQL query is now listed in the Queries section of the OMExternalShipping database.

Define an ODBC Connection to the Intermediary Database

  1. Create a new System DSN for the OMExternalShipping database, using the 32-bit version of the ODBC Data Source Administrator utility.

  2. Windows XP users simply go to Control Panel> Administrative Tools> Data Sources (ODBC).

  3. If 64-bit editions of Windows Vista or Windows 7 are being used, review the Knowledge Base topic, Windows 64-bit Operating System Considerations, for information about executing the 32-bit compatible utility.

  4. When the ODBC Data Source Administrator form appears, select Add.

Figure 11: ODBC Data Source Administrator screen - System DSN tab

  1. At the Create New Data Source screen, select Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb) from the list of Names.

Figure 12: Create New Data Source screen

  1. Select Finish.

  2. The ODBC Microsoft Access Setup screen opens. Enter a meaningful name in the Data Source Name field, and optionally, a description in the field of the same name.

  3. Click Select and navigate to the location of the database created in step 2 (OMExternalShipping.mdb) of section, Create an Intermediary Database and Link Tables from Stone Edge's Store File.

Figure 13: ODBC Microsoft Access Setup screen

Figure 14: Select Database screen

  1. Click the OK buttons on the Select Database screen and the ODBC Microsoft Access Setup screen.

  2. The user is returned to the ODBC Source Administrator screen, where the new connection is visible.

Figure 15: ODBC DataSource Administrator screen, showing newly created System DSN

  1. Continue on to section MS Access Store Data File: Define an ODBC Connection and complete those instructions.

MS Access Store Data File: Define an ODBC Connection

An ODBC connection to Stone Edge's store data file must be created on each workstation where Ship Manager will be used to print shipping labels for orders contained in the Stone Edge Order Manager.

If an ODBC connection to the store data file has already been defined for some other purpose, such as another external shipping application, it is possible to use that same ODBC definition in conjunction with Ship Manager. In that case, skip to Configuring FedEx Ship Manager and follow those instructions. Otherwise, complete the following steps:

  1. Go to Main Menu>Settings>System Functions>Store Setup Wizard>Shipping tab.

  1. Select Create System DSN/ODBC Connection.  

Figure 16: Store Setup Wizard: Shipping section, Page 1

  1. The Enter name for System DSN dialog box opens.

Figure 17: Enter name for System DSN dialog box

  1. Enter a name for the ODBC connection between Ship Manager and your store's data file, such as "OMStoreDataFile". The name cannot have spaces or punctuation in it. If more than one store file is used, and you will be printing labels for orders from both stores through FedEx Ship Manager, it might be helpful to use the store name in the System DSN to easily tell them apart.

Users, with workstations that are running 64-bit editions of a Windows operating system, must be aware that the ODBC connection should be made through Stone Edge (Shipping Setup Wizard or UPS Worldship Setup) and not via the default Data Connections utility in the Administrative Tools in the Control Panel. Microsoft Access is a 32-bit application and cannot use an ODBC connection created in 64-bit mode. The Stone Edge utilities will create a 32-bit connection automatically.

Also be aware that the 32-bit ODBC connection created by Stone Edge will not be visible through the default 64-bit Data Connections utility in the Administrative Tools section of the Control Panel. Refer to Windows 64-Bit Operating System Considerations, for more information.

  1. Select OK to create the ODBC connection. Make a note of the name as you will need it later when setting up Ship Manager.

  2. The program pops a message box to indicate the creation of the ODBC connection and the addition of the Worldship (External Shipping Software) query to Stone Edge store data file.  

  3. Select OK to acknowledge the end of the process.

Figure 18: ODBC Process Completion message

Configuring FedEx Ship Manager

Once the FedEx Ship Manager has been downloaded and installed, the user can create an Integration Profile to complete the connection between the Stone Edge Order Manager and Ship Manager.

Creating a FedEx Ship Manager Integration Profile

  1. Launch the Ship Manager software.

  2. Select Integration in the menu bar, and select FedEx ® Integration Assistant.

Figure 19: FedEx Ship Manager Menu

  1. At the Welcome>Introduction screen, select Continue (not pictured).

  2. At the  Welcome>Before You Begin screen, select Continue (not pictured).

  3. At the Begin>Create screen, select Create a New Profile radio button and then select Continue (not pictured).

Figure 20: ShipManager Begin>Create screen

  1. At the Begin>Integration Type screen, select the Both Import and Export radio button and select Continue button, pictured below.

Figure 21: ShipManager Begin>Integration Type screen

  1. At the Import>Source screen, select the ODBC radio button and then select the radio button that represents the proper ODBC Data Source Name (which depends on the type of database is used for the Stone Edge store data file):

If you use an SQL database as your Stone Edge store file:

If you use an MS Access database as your store data file:

Figure 22: ShipManager Import>Source screen

  1. Select Continue.

  2. At the Import>Shipping screen, it is recommended that you select Yes for all of the settings on this page.

Figure 23: ShipManager Import>Shipping screen

  1. Select Continue.

  2. At the Import>Lookup screen, select After I enter a lookup value and select Continue (not pictured).

Figure 24: ShipManager Import>Lookup screen

  1. At the Import>Information screen, complete the Recipient and Package field lists.

    1. Select the Recipient link to open the Recipient form and check all of the fields in the table below:

Address 1 Address 2
City Company
Contact Name Country
Phone Postal Code
State/Province ID

Chart 1

Figure 25: ShipManager Import>Information screen

    1. Select Return to close the Recipient form.

    2. Select the Package link and select the fields listed in the following table:

Bill Transportation To Customer Reference
Package Type Residential Delivery Flag
Service Type Weight

Chart 2

It is necessary to use the vertical scroll bar to locate some of these fields, which are not all visible in the image below.

Figure 26: ShipManager Import>Information screen showing the Package selection box

    1. When finished both lists, select OK.

  1. At the Import>Match screen, map the fields in your store's data file with the corresponding fields in Ship Manager as shown in the table below:

Chart 3

Figure 27: ShipManager Import>Match screen

The WorldShipOrders table is used for any external shipping software integration, not just for UPS WorldShip.

Figure 28: ShipManager Table Selection popup

  1. While still at the Import>Match screen, click Select Index after all of the Stone Edge fields have been mapped to the corresponding Ship Manager fields.

  2. The Primary Index screen opens. Select the Tables button at the bottom of the page.

  3. A list of fields that are found in the WorldShipOrders table appears in the Lookup dialog box.

  4. Select the Order Number field from the list and then select OK. A colored line will appear to indicate the relationship has been made.

Figure 29: ShipManager Primary Index screen

  1. Select Continue and proceed to the Import>Conversion screen.

  2. Select the Service Type link at the side of the screen to map the names of FedEx Ship Manager method names (radio buttons) to your Stone Edge shipping methods (drop-down lists). Use the vertical scroll bars to see additional shipping methods.

Figure 30: ShipManager Import>Conversion screen

  1. For each FedEx shipping method that you use, select its radio button in the FedEx list, To (FSM value), and select the corresponding shipping method name from the adjacent drop-down list in the Stone Edge method name list, From (your value).

  2. Select Continue to proceed to the Export>Destination screen. This is where the export map gets created.

Remember, if you use an SQL database as your Stone Edge store file, the ODBC connection used for the ShipManager export map should point to the store data file, not the intermediary database.

Figure 31: ShipManager Export>Destination screen

  1. Select Continue to proceed to the Export>Method screen.

Figure 32: ShipManager Export>Method screen

  1.  It is recommended to select the settings as shown in the image above:

At the end of day

Insert a new record

  1. Select Continue to proceed to the Export Information screen.

  2. Select the Tracking Number link on the side of the screen and check the field labeled Tracking Number (not pictured).

  3. Select Return and then select the Package link.

  4. Check the box labeled Customer Reference.

Figure 33: ShipManager Export>Information screen

  1. Select OK to proceed to the Export>Match screen and map the following fields:

FedEx Field Name 

Select a Table 

Select a Field

Tracking Number 

Tracking 

TrackingID

Customer Reference 

Tracking 

OrderNum

Chart 4

Figure 34: ShipManager Export>Match screen

  1. Select Continue to proceed to the Finish>Summary screen, which shows a summary of the integration profile.

  2. To review or change the settings that have been made, select Edit button next to any of the sections.

Figure 35: ShipManager Finish>Summary screen

  1. If satisfied with the settings, select Continue to proceed to the Finish>Instructions screen.

  2. Select the Finish button. The application prompts the user to provide a name for the newly created integration profile.

Figure 36: ShipManager Finish>Instructions screen

  1. Enter a name that clearly distinguishes the profile as being related to the Stone Edge store data file, and select Save.

  2. Select Finish to complete the integration between FedEx ShipManager and the Stone Edge Order Manager.

  3. At that time, the ShipManager software will open the Lookup Value screen.

Figure 37: Lookup Value popup

  1. Enter the number of an approved Stone Edge order in the Lookup: field and select OK.

The ShipManager screen is now populated with the order's shipping information pulled from Stone Edge, ready to print a shipping label.

Using the FedEx ShipManager Software with Stone Edge

 Once the integration steps have been completed, to print Stone Edge shipping labels through ShipManager, follow these steps:

  1. Launch the FedEx ShipManager software.

  2. Select the Integration menu item and select the name of the profile that was created during the setup process from the drop-down list. Refer to step 32 in the previous section.

  3. The Lookup Value dialog box opens.

  4. Enter an approved Stone Edge order number and press OK.

  5. The order information populates the screen.

  6. Review the fields for accuracy and print the label.

 

Created: 9/26/11

Modified: 10/10/14

Go to Top