I put an item in carton 4 of a 3-carton shipment; why didn't the tool warn me?
Because the package number field is free text, and the tool does not compare it with the package count you entered. That is deliberate, so you can type '1-3', '2, 4' or 'A1', but the price is that a wrong number passes silently. The fix is a quick read down the package column before you print.
How the mistake happens
Take the preloaded example in the Packing-list generator: three cartons, with 40 size L shirts in package 1, 40 size M shirts in package 2 and 25 belts in package 3. If you type 4 instead of 3 for the belts by mistake, nothing in the summary changes: 3 item lines and a total quantity of 105 pcs, exactly as before.
The package number takes no part in any calculation. Quantities are grouped by unit, and the package number is printed in the table as typed. The number of packages under Package details has to be a whole number of 1 or more, and it prints in its own table without any link to the items column.
Why doesn't the tool check?
Because real package numbers are not always a neat sequence. Some warehouses label cartons 'A1' and 'A2', some suppliers use a pallet number followed by a carton number, and one item may sit in '2, 4'. Any strict rule would have rejected these valid cases, so the field stays free text up to 20 characters and the check is left to you.
A one-minute check before printing
- After creating the PDF, look at the preview and run your finger down the package number column.
- Confirm every number there is a carton that exists and is within the package count shown in the package details table.
- Check the other direction too: every carton from 1 to 3 should appear at least once, or a carton is missing from the list or an item was put against the wrong one.
- If you find a mistake, fix it in the table and create the file again; changing the data discards the earlier file and a message says the data changed.
A habit that prevents it
Order the item lines by package: everything in carton 1 first, then carton 2, and so on. The column then runs upwards, and a stray 4 at the bottom stands out at once. Write the same number clearly on the carton itself. If your cartons are different sizes, work out each one's volumetric weight with the Volumetric shipping-weight calculator before you fix the count in your booking.
Common questions
Can I use letters in the package number?
Yes, it is free text up to 20 characters, so 'A1' or 'Pallet 2' is fine.
What if I type 3.5 as the number of packages?
That field is checked: it takes a whole number from 1 to 100,000 and shows an error otherwise.