Using Endicia Dazzle Tutorial
This tutorial will cover the basics of configuring UltraCart's support for Endicia Dazzle, printing postage, and importing tracking numbers.
Prerequisites
Before you can begin you must already have an Endicia Dazzle Premium or Professional account and the software downloaded. If you have not already signed up for an account, please visit http://www.endicia.com to signup. After you have signed up for your account you will need to download the software and install it.
UltraCart Configuration
First we need to specify all the options within UltraCart that will control the details passed to Endicia. First navigate to:
Main Menu
Configuration
Shipping
Shipping Specific Options
Scroll down to the Endicia Dazzle section. Below is a screen shot of a typical configuration.
Field |
Recommended Value |
Description |
|---|---|---|
About on Error |
No |
When this option is set to Yes Endicia will stop printing the rest of the file if an error is encountered. |
Auto print customs forms |
Yes |
This will print the customs forms for international shipments. Be careful and thoroughly test your international shipping configuration. |
Delivery Confirmation |
Yes |
Setting this to yes will provide tracking numbers for your shipments. |
Signature Confirmation |
No |
Setting this to yes will require someone to sign for the package. If you have a large problem with chargebacks you may want to set this to yes. |
Insured Mail |
ENDICIA |
This will ensure your packages with Endicia which is less expensive than the USPS |
Insured Mail Threshold |
0 |
Determines the threshold when insurance should be used. Some merchants only want to insure expensive shipments over say $100 |
Layout |
C:\Users\Public\Documents\Endicia\DAZzle\Zebra Label.lyt |
Most merchants will print 4x6 Zebra labels. |
Output File |
c:\endica\ultracart-import-output.XML |
This is where Endicia will kick back the XML file with tracking information that can be imported into UltraCart |
Parcel Select |
No |
Set to yes to use the USPS Parcel Select system. |
Prompt |
No |
Set this to yes to prompt the user whenever there are errors with addresses, etc. |
Return Address |
Your ship from address |
The address from which you are shipping packages from. |
Start |
PRINTING |
Starts the printing of the labels automatically if the XML file is specified as a command line arguments of the Dazzle executable. This is an advanced option. |
Stealth Postage |
TRUE |
This will keep Endicia from printing the exact postage amount on the label. |
Test |
NO |
Set this to NO when printing live postage. |
CCEmail |
Leave blank |
Provides a copy of the email sent to the customer. UltraCart will send out notices to the customers so we do not recommend using this feature. |
After you have configured the Dazzle options to meet your company's needs, scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save.
Building a Temporary Directory
You will need to create a temporary folder at c:\endicia on your machine. We will assume that you have not worked on the command line and will create the folder using the Windows Explorer. First click on the Start button located in the lower left corner of your computer and then select Computer as shown below.
Now click on the C: as shown below.
Next click on the "New Folder" button at the top. When the text field appears type in "endicia" and hit Enter. Your screen should look like the screen shot below.
You have successfully created the directory where we will exchange XML files with Endicia.
Exporting information from UltraCart to Endicia
First navigate to your shipping department located at:
Main Menu
Order Management
Shipping Department
Scroll down to one or more of the orders that you want to ship and click the check box as shown below.
Now on the left hand side of the screen click the "Export to Endicia" button as shown below.
When you click the button a file save dialog will appear on your browser like the screen shot below. In the filename field change it from "ultracart-output.xml" to "c:\endicia\ultracart-output.xml". Now click the save button.
At this point we have successfully download the XML file with the shipment information. If you were to open this file in Notepad it would look like the screen shot below.
Setting the Layout Printer (One Time Configuration)
Endicia uses the concept of a layout file for printing. If you recall we configured it to use the Zebra Layout.lyt file earlier in the shipper specific options configuration. We need to quickly configure which printer we want this layout to use. Open up the Dazzle application, click on the Design tab, and then click File -> Open Layout as shown in the screen shot below.
Endicia is smart enough to automatically open the folder that contains the layout files. Scroll down to the appropriate layout for your printing. In this tutorial we are working with Zebra Layout.lyt since we are printing 4x6 thermal labels (the most common shipping label). The screen shot below shows us selecting Zebra Layout.lyt and opening it.
Next click File -> Printer Setup on the menu as shown below.
When the printer setup dialog appears you need to:
- Select the printer from the list
- Adjust label orientation settings
- Print test labels until the orientation is correct
- Click OK.
Below is a screen shot of the printer setup.
Finally click File -> Save Layout to record the printer setting changes that have been made. Endicia will now remember all the settings of how to print when this particular layout is used.