Managing multiple quantities (splitting/merging) in shipping
In the context of a shipment, this feature allows you to split the quantity of a product. This handling is done in the form of unit packages whose summed quantities equal the parent product’s quantity.
Product with a quantity of 4 = Product-1 with quantity 2, Product-2 with quantity 1, Product-3 with quantity 1.
This document explains how quantity splitting works.
Work order file
The display of products and their quantities is not split in a work order file. The displayed quantity is the total quantity of the product.
The shipping label print window is accessible by the barcode button.
Shipping label print window
The products from the work order are displayed with their quantities as defined by the user.
Split quantities
To split quantities, use the package button.
You can distribute quantities by adding or removing lines using the + and – buttons.
The package quantity is always 1. Manual entry allows you to define the quantity to allocate in the “Qty per package” column. The sum of the allocated quantities must always equal the total quantity.
When you exit the splitting window, barcodes are displayed. For non‑split cases, the barcode is a numeric “ID” referring to the product. When the quantity is split, this ID is followed by “-X” where X is the package number.
Edit splitting
To edit the splitting, use the Package button again and adjust the configuration as needed.
Delete a splitting
To delete a splitting or return to the original quantity, go to the splitting edit window (via the Package button) and remove all lines. After removing them, enter the initial total quantity.
Group
Grouping allows you to bring products together for the shipping cycle. You can group split and non‑split cases. Multiple selection via the “To process” button must be done first. The “Group” button is used to confirm the action.
For grouped products, a group barcode and a group number are displayed. The lines are highlighted in the same color for each group.
You can create several groups. Here is an example.
When split cases are grouped, the splitting can no longer be modified afterwards. To do so, all cases of the split product must first be separated.
Separate
The separation button allows you to separate selected cases from a group. This does not completely undo the grouping: only the cases selected with the “To process” button are removed from their group.
Printing performs several actions and has certain limitations:
Action
On a first print, a shipping file will be created if it does not already exist and will be linked to the work order.
The cases selected with “To process” will be printed together.
Limitations
Grouped and individual (non‑grouped) cases cannot be printed together. If you attempt this, grouped cases are prioritized and printed without the selected individual cases.
A custom label must be created or adjusted for you. Contact your account representative at Cienapps for more details.
For individual printing, a single label is printed. When printing is complete, the “Printed” column displays a check mark for the cases that have already been printed.
For group printing, the products are printed by group.
Behavior specifics
After printing, package management is disabled. You must uncheck, among other things, the “Print” checkbox.
Work order file
Split quantities cannot be modified in a work order file.
For non‑split cases, this quantity cannot be decreased if the shipment is in the loading phase. It can be increased, but certain confirmations are required.
Processor
Quantity splitting can be managed from the production tab of a processor sheet.
The Group, Separate, and Print features perform the same actions as in the shipping label print window.
Shipping file
The display and management of split cases is available in the shipping file.
Scanning takes the full barcode into account for split cases. Example: 94469‑1 will be valid when scanning. Scanning 94469 alone will not be valid.
Two‑step shipping mode
This mode must be used when quantities are split. The order must be followed: you must pre‑ship first and then ship.
Grouping
For grouped cases, scanning uses the group barcode. When scanning, all grouped products are taken into account and processed.
Limitation
This module does not allow manual entry of quantities. The splitting feature already allows you to define quantities up front; when scanning, all quantities are processed per product.
It does not allow scanning an individual quantity from a group.
Scanning at step 2
When a product is scanned at the second step (e.g. shipping), it will no longer appear in the shipping label print window.
Automatic splitting
It is possible to configure certain products or product categories so that they are automatically split into packages of 1 item each, instead of having to create these packages manually.
This configuration is available in the product file, under Type of delivery label printing, by selecting the option 1 label per quantity.
To configure this option at the category level, select 1 label per quantity in the category record, and select Defined by the product category in the products belonging to that category.
How it works
When this option is enabled, the first time the shipping label printing window is opened, instead of creating a single label line for the product with a quantity matching the one listed on the work order, the system will create as many label lines as the quantity on the work order, each line having a quantity of 1. This operation is equivalent to manually splitting the product into packages of 1.
Once the window has been opened for the first time and the automatic split has been performed, there is no remaining trace of this process. The packages can be modified again manually, and if the quantity on the work order is later changed, the automatic split will not be performed again for the additional items.
For a quantity of 3, with automatic splitting enabled:
For a quantity of 3, without automatic splitting enabled: