Configuring complex container structures

Complex container structures are container structures that include virtual containers or have more than two genuine levels of hierarchy. Auxiliary packaging is ignored.

Incoming containers can have these roles:

  • Master, Mixed: The Master and Mixed roles are available only for outermost containers.
  • Intermediate: This role is used for containers that have neither Master, Mixed, nor Single role
  • Single: The Single role can be used only for innermost containers.

How inner and outer containers are handled during import depends on whether the printing- and ASN-related check boxes are selected in Packaging Information:

  • Outer containers: If a type of packaging is not intended to be printed on a specific document or to be provided through an ASN, and it does not contain goods, then it must be removed from the container structure before the Master/Mixed, Intermediate, or Single role is assigned.
  • Inner containers: If an innermost container is not intended to be printed on a specific document and not intended to be provided through an ASN, it is marked as inactive during processing, but is still available in the internal container structure. Its parent receives the Single role if it contains only one item of one consolidation type. It receives the Mixed Master role if it is an outermost container, otherwise it receives the Mixed Single role. The Intermediate role is assigned to all other containers.

In a print request all the containers that are used, including Intermediate containers, must be available.

To configure trading partners and customers for the handling of complex container structures:

  1. Select Shipping > Configuration > Packaging Information.
  2. Click Create and enter the desired Container Type.
  3. In the Print/Publish On section, specify the desired print options.
  4. Click Save.
  5. Select Administrative Functions > Manage Codes.
  6. Click Drill down to the left of the TradingPartners code list.
  7. Click Edit.
  8. Click Create to enter code list properties for a trading partner.
    The dialog box Manage Code Properties opens.
  9. Click the Values 2 tab and specify this information:
    Use Intermediate Containers on ASN
    Caution: 
    Select this check box only on explicit request of your trading partner. Intermediate containers are containers to which no other role is assigned in the packaging structure. You can select this check box if you are working with at least three genuine packaging levels without auxiliary packaging. The outer level of packaging is represented by the outer master or mixed packaging level. The inner level is represented by the single packaging level. The intermediate level is represented by the intermediate packaging. If this check box is cleared, intermediate containers are declared as auxiliary packaging. All the boxes that are contained are directly assigned to the parent container of this packaging.
  10. Click the Values 3 tab and specify this information:
    Item Consolidation Mode
    This attribute determines how the elements of two containers are identified as being equal. Using this field you can define the trading partner-specific criteria that determine whether labels for mixed pallets are to be printed. Configuring the Item Consolidation Mode allows you to determine for each trading partner which shipment lines should be defined as positions of the same kind.
    • No Label Mode: Per shipper and shipment number
    • Per Item: Two items are considered equal if the item number is the same. All other properties are ignored
    • Per Item and Lot: Two items are considered equal if the internal item numbers and lots of these two items are the same
    • Per Item and Lot and Order
    • Per Item and Lot and RAN or Kanban
    • Per Item and Order
    • Per Item and RAN or Kanban

    Depending on this setting, a Master or Mixed label is printed for the pallet.