There are multiple methods that can be used to link information between ProfitMaker and shipping manifest software programs. In many instances of integration with the UPS Worldship program, a common approach to send information is through the use of ODBC drivers.
ODBC drivers are installed on machines that are running the shipping manifest program. They can be created by entering the Control Panel in Windows and selecting Administrative Tools/Data Sources (ODBC). In most instances, the user will select the System DSN folder tab in the Data Sources function. From there, two types of tables are added.
The first driver commonly created is a Visual FoxPro driver that links to the manifest path as defined in the ProfitMaker system. This table defines the path as a Free Table Directory. The table is then selected by the Worldship program as an import table that will bring in information from ProfitMaker orders.
The second driver commonly used is a Text driver. In most instances, two text drivers are created. One serves as a driver for a preliminary (or live time) export from the shipping manifest program while the other driver is used for an end of day export. For both of these drivers, they are linked drive/folder holding text files used by the ProfitMaker Real Time Manifest Server.
For the text drivers to properly export information, the drivers have a place to define the formats for text files placed in driver path. The formats are matched to the field layouts for the data transfer tables used by ProfitMaker to import shipping information. If formats need to be defined, you may call the ProfitMaker support department for further instruction.
ODBC drivers are installed on machines that are running the shipping manifest program. They can be created by entering the Control Panel in Windows and selecting Administrative Tools/Data Sources (ODBC). In most instances, the user will select the System DSN folder tab in the Data Sources function. From there, two types of tables are added.
The first driver commonly created is a Visual FoxPro driver that links to the manifest path as defined in the ProfitMaker system. This table defines the path as a Free Table Directory. The table is then selected by the Worldship program as an import table that will bring in information from ProfitMaker orders.
The second driver commonly used is a Text driver. In most instances, two text drivers are created. One serves as a driver for a preliminary (or live time) export from the shipping manifest program while the other driver is used for an end of day export. For both of these drivers, they are linked drive/folder holding text files used by the ProfitMaker Real Time Manifest Server.
For the text drivers to properly export information, the drivers have a place to define the formats for text files placed in driver path. The formats are matched to the field layouts for the data transfer tables used by ProfitMaker to import shipping information. If formats need to be defined, you may call the ProfitMaker support department for further instruction.