In certain exceptional cases, it may be useful to create address labels in Xentral without connecting to a shipping provider – for example, for internal shipments, letters with postage stamps, or cross-border deliveries without tracking. This feature is not intended for standard shipping processes, but is designed for users with specific requirements outside the typical logistics workflow.
It is possible to create a custom label template, configure the "Address Label" shipping method, and then manually print the labels via the shipping center or the delivery note.
Caution
For most shipping scenarios, Xentral strongly recommends using integrated shipping providers with parcel labels and automated tracking.
A general overview of the shipping methods and parcel labels you can use in xentral can be found here.
The address label offers you these features:
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Creation of address labels for shipping goods
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Sending of shipping goods by stamp
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Cross-boarder shipping
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Internal deliveries
In the following section, you will find information on how to configure various settings for address labels in xentral. First, you set up a label printer, which you will later use to print your address labels. Afterwards you define the format of your address label in the label module.
Under Administration > Settings > System > Printer > +NEW you can set up a label printer. Either connect a label printer directly or use a so-called PDF label printer that displays the labels as PDF directly in the browser.
Make the following settings:
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Name/Location: Enter a name of the printer that you have chosen
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Name: Enter a name of your choice for the printer
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Active: Check the box to display and use the printer
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Device type: Select Label printer from the drop-down menu
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Format: Select the format DINA4 from the drop-down menu
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No background: Check this box only if you want this printer to print letterhead without background
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Connection: Select Download as the connection from the drop-down menu
To create an address label, go to Administration > Settings > System > Labels and create a new label using +NEW. You are free to choose the variables and positioning for the label. Here is an example:
The XML of the sample label is as follows:
<label>
<line x="3" y="3" size="3">Absender</line>
<line x="3" y="6" size="3">{ABSENDERNAME}</line>
<line x="3" y="9" size="3">{ABSENDERSTRASSE}</line>
<line x="3" y="12" size="3">{ABSENDEROPLZ}</line>
<line x="10" y="12" size="3">{ABSENDERORT}</line>
<line x="60" y="3" size="3">Empfänger</line>
<line x="60" y="6" size="3">{NAME}</line>
<line x="60" y="9" size="3">{STRASSE}</line>
<line x="60" y="12" size="3">{PLZ}{ORT}</line>
<line x="69" y="12" size="3">{PLZ}{ORT}</line>
</label>
After you have made all the settings for your address label as described above, you can also use your custom label in the Address Label shipping method.
Navigate via App Center > Shipping methods to the Shipping methods module. Use +NEW > Address Label to create the shipping type Address Label.
Fill in the following fields:
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Designation: Freely select a designation for the shipping method. This is displayed in xentral among others in the order for selection in the drop-down menu
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Type: Specify the type/field description. You can generally choose this as long as it is not necessary for the store mapping or other mappings. Ideally you should keep the default setting
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Module: Select Address Label from the drop-down menu
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Project: Optionally select a project, provided that a separate DHL shipping method is created for each project
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Active: Check the box to activate the shipping method and make it visible and usable
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No postage check: By checking this box, no postage check will be performed in the order
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Printer Parcel Label: Select from the drop-down menu the default printer that prints the parcel labels
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Printer Export: Select from the drop-down menu the default printer that prints the export documents
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Shipping Mail: From the drop-down menu, select the behavior of the shipping mail. "Default behavior" means that a default tracking mail will be sent, "no shipping mail" means that no tracking mail will be sent with this shipping type and "custom text template" means that a custom shipping confirmation text template will be used for this shipping type, independent of the project and logistics process
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Use label template: Check this box only if you want to use a label template. This must have been created beforehand
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Label template: If you have previously created a label template and checked "Use label template", then select a label template from the menu
Finally, click on Save.
If you want to use a label template you have already created for your address label, select it in the shipping method interface. These two fields are important here:
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Use label template: Make sure to check this box so that you can use a template
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Label template: Select the label template you created for the address label from the list
Alternatively, you can also use a predefined address label.
Once you have made all the settings as described above, you can test the printing of the address label in the shipping center or in a single delivery note. To do this, under Fulfillment > Delivery note> Details > Delivery note, in the Delivery note area, select the Shipping method address label from the drop-down menu.
Note
Alternatively, you can also print them out on the selected printer under Fulfillment > Shipping Center.
Click on the Save button before navigating to the package mark dialog.
Afterwards, click on the Parcel label tab in the delivery note and print an address label for the included items via Print shipping label.
As a result you will get the set address label: