Enter a Consignment
Data entry in SendIT is configurable, so the screen can be customised to meet the needs of the user (fields in white are the normal data entry fields and the cursor will tab through these fields. Colour fields cannot be reached using the tab, but can be access with the mouse.)
In typical use, data entry involves the following steps:
- Select a receiver or enter a new receiver
- Record any customer reference numbers (eg. invoice, order, pick slip etc.)
- Enter details about the items making up the consignment (number, type, description, weight, cubic.)
- Record any specific instructions for delivery.
Default values will usually suffice for the other consignment fields.
Selecting a Receiver
SendIT can store receiver details in a database to avoid repetitive data entry. These receivers are retrieved from the database using the select field on the consignment screen. SendIT requires all receivers stored in the database to have an account number, however, the application can be configured to generate account numbers for new receivers.
The application will be pre-configured to select receivers either by account number, or by name (this behaviour can be changed however by ticking the checkbox at the end of the Select field.)
Begin typing the account number or receiver name, and a drop-down list will appear containing all matches from the database.
You can select an item from the list using the keyboard arrow keys or the mouse, or type in the complete account number or name and press enter. If you type an account number or name and press enter, and the entry cannot be found in the database, then the cursor will drop down to the receiver fields so you can enter the details for the new receiver. By default, SendIT will save the new receiver when the consignment is saved.
SPECIAL CASE: If your configuration is set to retrieve receivers by account number, then you can enter one-off addresses using the special account “0”. Using this account number will drop the cursor down into the receiver address fields so you can enter the one-off address. The address will not be saved in the receiver database.
Customer Reference
SendIT can store multiple references, eg. an order number, an invoice number, a picking slip number, or multiples of each.
To record a single reference number against a consignment, enter its value into the Customer Reference field. The value in this field will print on the address labels.
To record multiple references, click on the Refs button.
Enter each reference into the New Reference field and press Enter to add it to the references list. To remove an entry from the list, just click on the entry you want to remove.
Press Enter when the New Reference field is blank, or click the Close button, to close the form.
Item Details
SendIT records details (weight, cubic measurements, type, description, and contained dangerous goods) about each individual item. By default, the Consignment Items form will popup automatically when entering a new consignment, or it can be manually opened by clicking the Items button.
If all items in the consignment are different, then the details for each item will need to be entered one at a time. If you have multiple items of a similar weight and size, they can be entered in bulk.
Select the Item Type from the drop-down list (using mouse or arrow keys) or type in the item code. For existing types, the weight, measurement and description fields will be filled with default values (these can be over-written.) If you enter the code for a new type, you will be prompted to save the type so that it can be recalled in future.
If the package contains DGs, enter the UN number, and select the appropriate entry from the drop-down list.
When you enter off the description field, the item record will be added to the list (alternatively, click the Add button.) To remove a record from the list, just click on the record you want to remove.
Save and Print
Once all details have been entered, the consignment will automatically be saved when you enter off the last field. In the default configuration, Special Instructions is the last field, so pressing Enter or Tab with the cursor in that field will save the consignment.
If the auto-save is successful, then labels and a connote will automatically print for the consignment if required. (Auto-printing of labels and connotes is configurable for each carrier – the default is to print labels only.) After printing, the screen is cleared ready for the next consignment.
Alternatively, the consignment can be manually saved by clicking the Save button.