WebSphere brand IBM WebSphere Premises Server, Version 6.1.x

Configuring pack types

Use the Profile Configuration feature in the WebSphere® Premises Server Administrative Console to create pack types for a profile. These pack types can then be used in the Print, Verify, and Ship Reference User Interface.

About this task

A pack type is a type of container, such as a case or pallet. Each pack type is associated with various pieces of information that are required for converting customer-specific product codes to EPC format. This information includes an input type, which is the UCC.EAN format of the customer product code, and an encoding type, which defines an EPC algorithm to convert the input codes into EPC format. The pallet and case concept is a two-tiered approach to defining a containment hierarchy of items: pallets contain cases. You can, however, define terms beyond pallet and case to define your own containment hierarchy.

In a containment hierarchy, any pack type can contain zero or more pack types. For example, pack type A can contain both pack types B and C; and D does not contain any pack types. B and C are children of pack type A (the parent). The following example is a containment hierarchy cycle that is not valid: A contains B contains C contains A. The Print, Verify, and Ship Reference User Interface does not allow this type of containment configuration. Use the Verify panel in the Print, Verify, and Ship Reference User Interface to specify that any pack type with children in its containment hierarchy is a container of associated labels.

The following table shows the available input types and their corresponding encoding types:
Table 1. Input Types and Matching Encoding Types
Input Type Encoding Type
DOD
  • usdod-64
  • usdod-96
GIAI
  • giai-64
  • giai-96
GID
  • gid-96
GLN
Note: This input type is supported only for printing. This type is not supported by the WebSphere Premises Server EPC Commissioning Member APIs.
  • sgln-96
  • sgln-64
GRAI
  • grai-96
  • grai-64
GTIN14
  • sgtin-64
  • sgtin-96
SSCC18
  • sscc-96
  • sscc-64

The Print, Verify, and Ship Reference User Interface includes twelve default pack types. The default GTIN14 pack types are:

The default SSCC18 pack types are:
  • PALLET64-SSCC64 - 64-bit non-item pack type
  • PALLET96-SSCC96 - 96-bit non-item pack type
The default DOD pack types are:
  • DODPallet64 - 64-bit pack type for DOD containers
  • DODCase64 - 64-bit pack type for DOD cases
  • DODUIDItem64 - 64-bit pack type for DOD single-item shipments
  • DODPallet96 - 96-bit pack type for DOD containers
  • DODCase96 - 96-bit pack type for DOD cases
  • DODUIDItem96 - 96-bit pack type for DOD single-item shipments

You can modify the default pack type or create any number of new ones for a particular customer. You associate pack types with profiles; therefore, for each created profile, you can create new pack types with which to print RFID tag labels. See Configuring profiles for more information.

Procedure
  1. Open the WebSphere Premises Server Administrative Console. The Welcome page displays.
  2. Click EPC Configuration Profile Configuration from the left panel. The EPC Profiles panel displays.
  3. Click the profile for which you are creating a new pack type. The Edit EPC Profile Details Panel displays.
  4. In the Available Packaging Types box, select Add new packtype. The Pack Type Configuration panel displays.
  5. Enter the pack type in the Packaging Type field.
  6. Type a brief description of this pack type in the Description field.
  7. In the Input Type field, select the input format of the product codes you are including in this pack type.
  8. In the Company Prefix Length field, select the number of digits in the company prefix for this pack type.
  9. In the Encoding Type field, select the algorithm to use when converting from the specified input type to the EPC-compliant output type.
  10. Select a filter value from the Filter Value field. Filter values are two- to four-digit codes that identify the pack type. In the EPCglobal standard, filter rules are used for filtering and pre-selecting basic logistic types such as inner packs, cases, and pallets.
  11. Type a one-digit code from 0-9 in the Indicator/Extension Digit field, if necessary. The indicator digit is specific to the manufacturer and identifies packing levels for SGTIN encoding types. The extension digit is used by SSCC encoding types to extend the range of serial numbers.
  12. If appropriate, select one or more pack types from the Contained Pack Type field. Use the <CTRL> key to select more than one pack type. A contained pack type refers to a pack type that is a subset of a larger pack type. For example, if you are creating pack type Pallet64-011, you might have a contained pack type of CASE64-001 because a case can be part of a larger pallet.
    Note: Any pack type can have zero or more contained pack types.
  13. Select a print template from the Default Print Template field. You must have already created at least one print template on the Print Templates panel in the WebSphere Premises Server Administrative Console. For more information on creating print templates, see Creating print templates.
    Note: The template you select automatically displays in the Label field on the Print panel of the Print, Verify, and Ship Reference User Interface when you select this pack type.
  14. Click Create. The pack type is saved and available for selection in the Print module of the Print, Verify, and Ship Reference User Interface.
  15. Go to the next section, Configuring profiles, to create a customer profile containing these pack types.

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