ApportConnect is an application that allows you to create shipments in TMS without having to log into the service. Instead, you add files with shipment information to a local folder on your computer. The files are then imported to TMS using ApportConnect. A response file is sent to you, and the freight documents are printed on the selected printers. Everything is done automatically.
Content in this article:
1. General Disclaimer
Apport Connect is delivered as a self-contained solution that is run as a program or service. That service must have access to the internet, the local network, and the designated printers.
The ApportConnect software is dependent on:
- Server hardware
- Server operating system
- Access rights (including read/write)
- Internet access
- Local network and printer access
- Printer
- Printer Drivers/Configuration
nShift cannot be held responsible if any of these components affect latency, throughput, or quality in the ApportConnect software.
2. Prerequisites
Printers and Local Network
ApportConnect software does not supply any support for printer drivers nor the specific settings that will be needed for the individual printers used; it relies on the assumption that a correct printer driver and correct settings are installed and set in the OS and server where the application is running.
ApportConnect will only be able to connect and communicate the data for documents to the designated printers through the Windows printers installed on the same server as the application is running. The connection from the Windows printer to the physical printer can be handled through direct connection to the printer's IP address or if the printer is shared on another server. When the application has passed any documents to the queues used, nShift no longer takes any responsibility for the support of the setup.
The account running the ApportConnect application in application- or service-mode needs appropriate access to place print jobs to the printers used.
The performance of the printers and printing depends on the local setup of the servers, rights, and AD restrictions, as well as infrastructure and LAN or WAN communication, and the printers used. This is completely out of the possibility and responsibility for nShift to support.
Label Printing
This applies to the printing of shipping labels. Labels can be printed to A4 lasers, but nShift's recommendation is to obtain and use a dedicated label printer.
Any label printer with a correct setup and corresponding Windows printer driver can be used.
nShift TMS produces the shipping labels in ZPL format, which is Zebra Programming Language, or as PDFs. Any settings for format, paper source, paper destination, copies, or other settings need to be set in the printer/driver settings. When using ZPL format, the need for drivers is restricted to Generic/Text only.
nShift does not make any recommendations or take any responsibility for the printers used or set up. nShift has designed and tested all transportation labels on Zebra Technologies printers and recommends that the printers and label paper used are in the format of 105 mm width and up to 253 mm in length (depending on carrier service).
Other A4 Documents
This applies to printing of Waybills, CMR, Receipt list, or similar A4 documents. Any laser printer with a correct and corresponding Windows printer driver can be used.
nShift TMS produces these documents as PDFs, and by passing these through the printer driver, any settings for format, paper source, paper destination, copies, or other settings need to be set in the printer/driver settings.
nShift does not make any recommendations or take any responsibility for the printer or setup.
Recommended Hardware and Operating System
nShift recommends that Microsoft Windows Server 2019 or a newer version be used as the operating system. Hardware requirements also depend on what other applications and services are running on the specific server. Our recommendation is 2-4 GB of internal memory, a 64-bit CPU with dual core or better, and 2-5 GB of disk for ApportConnect installation files, log files, and transactional files.
Backup and maintenance of configuration files and transactional data files must be handled by the customer. All maintenance routines are the sole responsibility of the customer. System performance depends on the overall setup, including hardware, infrastructure, and configurable elements. nShift does not take any responsibility for these aspects.
3. Performance
nShift performs regression tests to validate the performance of the current and previous versions of ApportConnect and has reached a throughput of 2500-4000 created shipments and printed documents per hour for one instance of ApportConnect. The number of shipments and printed documents depends on many factors, like the type of service, the number of parcels per shipment, and whether only labels or also waybills are created, as well as hardware and infrastructural setup, as described in the prerequisites and recommendations.
Performance is also affected by external dependencies when nShift is forced by the carriers to communicate with external web services (Fedex, UPS, and other International carriers).
4. Download
The latest version of nShift ApportConnect can be downloaded here:
Be sure to download the correct installation file for your operating system if you want to run an older version that is no longer supported. Installation of unsupported versions is at your own risk.
- ApportConnect for OSX (older version, no longer supported)
- ApportConnect for Linux (older version, no longer supported)
- ApportConnect for JAR (older version, no longer supported)
5. Installation
Installing on Windows
Before installing ApportConnect, make sure you have installed Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable.
- Locate your downloaded installer in .EXE format and double-click it to start the installation wizard. (The file is called "nShift ApportConnect-XX" where XX is the version number).
- Click Next.
- Accept the End-User License Agreement and click Next.
- Click Install. The program will use the following path by default, but it can be changed during the installation C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\nShift ApportConnect\
- You are now ready to set up some users in the program.
Installing on Mac OSX
Note that this legacy version is no longer supported! Installation is at your own risk.
- Locate the downloaded DMG file containing the installation of Unifaun ApportConnect.
- Double-click the downloaded file, and it should mount to your Mac system. You will be prompted with a drag-and-drop installation screen. Drag the Unifaun ApportConnect icon into the Applications folder like the image displays.
- The installation is now complete!
- Start the program via your Dashboard or by navigating to the Applications folder.
Proceed to setting up some users.
Installing on Linux
Note that this legacy version is no longer supported! Installation is at your own risk.
The installation process for ApportConnect varies depending on the Linux distribution you are using. This guide provides specific instructions for Ubuntu 16.04, but similar steps can be adapted for other distributions. Always refer to your distribution's documentation for precise details.
This example will be using Ubuntu 16.04, Debian packaged. If you want, you can also run it from a raw .jar file.
- Locate the downloaded .deb file for Unifaun ApportConnect.
- Double-click the .deb package to open it in Ubuntu Software Center.
- Click the Install button. If prompted about package quality, click Ignore and install.
- Authenticate if required.
- The program will be installed in /opt/UnifaunApportConnect.
- Adjust folder permissions if necessary to properly use the program (e.g, sudo chmod -R 777 /opt/UnifaunApportConnect).
Update and uninstall
Important! nShift ApportConnect MUST BE completely shut down before starting the upgrade process. (This also applies if you’re running nShift ApportConnect as a service)
Upgrading from 1.2.1 or earlier?
The application will install in a new location since it’s rebranding to “nShift ApportConnect”. (Previously Memnon PrintR) You can import your old settings from the old installation directory (Mainly “settings.printr”). Please see the separate instructions for Migrating from PrintR to ApportConnect for help on how to import old settings.
Follow these instructions to update nShift ApportConnect:
- Download the new version of nShift ApportConnect.
- Uninstall the currently installed version of nShift ApportConnect. (See the steps below on how to uninstall)
- Run the installation program and follow the instructions given on the screen. An update works exactly like installing a fresh copy of nShift ApportConnect. Your settings will be kept intact.
Uninstall
Your settings and ApportConnect users will not be removed if you follow these steps:
Windows
- Find the installation directory of ApportConnect. (Either in C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\ApportConnect or C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Local\ApportConnect)
- Click the uninstaller (unins000.exe) and follow its directions.
- When it’s done, DO NOT remove anything else from its previous installation folder. Removing the “app” folder, or the “ApportConnect” folder in AppData/Local will remove your ApportConnect settings.
- You are now free to install a new version of ApportConnect.
Mac OSX
- Simply remove “Unifaun ApportConnect” from your Applications folder.
- DO NOT remove any of ApportConnects’s files in your Home directory.
- You’re now free to install a new version of ApportConnect.
Linux
- Locate your installation (most likely in /opt/UnifaunApportConnect)
- Remove all files and folders EXCEPT the folder named “app”. Removing the “app” folder will remove your ApportConnect settings.
- You’re now free to install a new version of ApportConnect.