V9 - ShipStation setup and use 

SOS Inventory connects to the ShipStation app to provide you an easy way to ship your products using multiple carriers. 

ShipStation works in conjunction with the shipping methods you have defined in SOS Inventory. This enables the information on a SOS Inventory shipment transaction to sync to ShipStation, and for ShipStation information about that shipment to sync back to SOS.  When ShipStation data syncs back to SOS Inventory, the system automatically updates the Ship method, Shipping cost, and Tracking number fields in the shipment transaction. 

Setting up ShipStation integration with SOS Inventory

To use this integration, go to Tools & settings > Configuration > Connections > ShipStation and follow the directions listed on the Configure ShipStation for use with SOS Inventory page.

Settings are the following:

Enabled. When checked, this option enables ShipStation integration.

Send for SKU. The value options include Item ID, SKU, and Item name. Shipment lines sent to ShipStation will use the selected value as the Shopify SKU. (Item ID is a unique identifier for an inventory item, set internally by the SOS application.)

Send for description. The value options include Item name, Item description, and Shipment description. Shipment lines sent to ShipStation will use the selected value to populate the description field in Shopify.

Using ShipStation with SOS shipment transactions

Once set up, any shipments created in SOS can be synced to ShipStation for further processing with your carrier of choice.

1. Create the shipment transaction in SOS Inventory, noting the following:
   
   
    
   1. Leave the Ship method, Shipping cost, and Tracking number fields blank. 
   2. Keep the Force to ShipStation box checked.
       
2. In ShipStation: 
   1. Go to Orders > Awaiting Shipment > Stores. 
   2. Click the sync icon to Update All Stores. ShipStation will begin retrieving shipment transaction data from SOS Inventory.
   3. After the sync, select a transaction that needs to be assigned a carrier and ship service. 
      1. Review the order details.
      2. Configure your shipment (browse rates, enter the weight, select the service you want, etc.).
   4. Select Update stores again to sync the shipping method, cost, and tracking information back to SOS Inventory. 
       
3. In SOS, check the shipping transaction to ensure that the Ship method, Shipping cost, and Tracking number fields are populated with the data synced from ShipStation. The Force to Shipstation box will be unchecked. 
    
4. If you must modify the transaction afterwards:
   1. In SOS, recheck the Force to ShipStation box on the shipment transaction.
   2. In ShipStation
      1. Select the sync icon to Update All Stores again to retrieve the modified transaction from SOS.
      2. Make any needed changes in ShipStation.
      3. Sync shipping information back to SOS by selecting Update All Stores.
          
5. If a transaction in ShipStation has an error, the application will display a white exclamation point inside a red circle.
   1. In SOS, correct the error as noted by ShipStation.
   2. Recheck the Force to ShipStation box.
   3. Repeat Steps 2 and 3.