The connect input file is processed as described below:

•The customer application saves a connect input file in the shared folder. The connect input file contains shipping information required to process the shipment by E-Ship Server. The format of the connect input file can be configured using the Connect Input tab of the Connect Configuration screen.

Note: The name of the connect input file should start with 'SHIP', that is, it should be in this format — SHIP*.xxx

•Integration Adapter connects with the shared folder and scans for connect input files at regular time intervals.

•After establishing connection and scanning the shared folder, Integration Adapter opens the connect input file for processing.

•Connect input file contains one or more records. Each record contains some or all of the required fields to make a shipment. Refer to the input fields list for information about the various fields in the input record.

•Integration Adapter parses information from the input records to process the shipment.

Note: In case of multi-piece or multi-item shipment, the Record type of the first record in the input file should be S (Shipment). While all the subsequent records should have P (piece) or I (item) as their record type. The first shipment record contains information regarding the first piece or item. It does not contain the total number of pieces or items existing in the shipment. The number of pieces or items is determined by the number of P or I records received after the shipment record until another shipment record, or reaches the end of file.

•Integration Adapter uses only the piece or item level information provided in piece or item records and ignores the shipment level information if provided in piece or item records.

•After parsing each record in the connect input file, Integration Adapter renames the connect input file with the .BAK extension to ensure that the same file can not be processed again.
 
For example, SHIPxxxx.EXT is renamed as SHIPxxxx.BAK.

•Integration Adapter processes the shipment in the following three modes:

•Input Mode

•Auto Mode

•Query Mode

Note: The processing mode is determined from the value of the Transaction type field in the shipment record. If no mode is specified in the record, processing is done using the Input mode.