Here's the details - TOPS - Packaging Software

TOPS Pro Tutorial : Using MixPro Tray and Pallet Editors
TOPS Pro allows you to design a pallet for display with any numbers of different size boxes. In this
exercise, you will use the MixPro Tray Editor to design a mixed tray and use the MixPro Pallet Editor to
create a mixed load pallet which can be used for store display.
MixPro Tray Editor
To access the MixPro Tray module, go to the Toolbar and click on the MixPro Tray
Design Editor icon – .
System Response: The MixPro Tray Editor appears, as pictured below.
Notice the following features on the MixPro Tray Editor:
Shipcase Button: Allows you to select a tray template.
Package List: Displays a list of packages (or objects) that you can add to the pick
list for loading onto the tray.
Add Button: Moves a selected item from the package list to the pick list.
Delete Button: Deletes a selected item from the package list.
New Button: Opens the Define Package Info dialog box and allows you to create a
new package/object. Use this function if the package list does not include the
package you need.
Remove Button: Removes a selected package from the pick list.
Modify Button: Opens the Define Package Info dialog box, which allows you to
modify a newly created package/object.

Note: The Modify function applies only to packages created in MixPro Tray. You
cannot modify packages created in TOPS Pro. Also, you cannot modify a package
that’s already placed onto the tray.
Pick List: Displays a list of packages you’ve selected from the package list. These
packages can be loaded onto the tray. The pick list also tracks the following
information for each type of package: number of packages, length, width and height.
Tray Display Window: Displays an image of the tray and allows you to drag
packages onto the tray.
Snap Toolbar: Allows you to move the assortment of packages flush to any corner
or side of the tray.
In this exercise, we’ll create a mixed tray that consists of the following ArmorAll
products:
ArmorAll spray bottles
ArmorAll cloth packets
The first step in this process is to create a new tray designed to hold these products.
We’ll design the tray based on a template designed in CASY. From the MixPro Tray
Editor, follow these instructions:
1. Click on the Shipcase button.
System Response: The Select ShipCase dialog box appears.
2. From the Select Shipcase dialog box, click on the New button.
System Response: The Define Shipcase dialog box appears, as followed.

3. Use the following fields to define the tray parameters:
Style: Use the drop-down list to select a tray template (tray.tsc).
Name: Enter ArmorAll.
Length: Enter 16.
Width: Enter 12.
Height: Enter 15.
4. If all your tray parameters are correct, click on OK.
System Response: The Define Shipcase dialog box closes. The Select Shipcase
dialog box re-appears with the parameters for the new tray.
5. From the Select Shipcase dialog box, click on OK.
System Response: MixPro saves the new tray to the database. (MixPro saves the
tray as a shipcase.) The MixPro Tray Editor re-appears, as pictured below, with the
new tray name (ArmorAll) displayed next to the Shipcase button.
6. Look at the package list and decide which items you want to place onto the tray. In
this exercise, we want the mixed tray to include ArmorAll spray bottles and cloth
packets.

Notice that the initial package list does not include any of these items. In this case,
MixPro allows you to create new packages for these items. From the MixPro Tray
Editor, click on the New button.
System Response: The Define Package Info dialog box appears.
7. Use the following fields to define the ArmorAll spray bottle:
Style: Use the drop-down box to select a tray template (in this exercise,
hairsp.tpr).
Name: Enter ArmorAll Spray.
Length: Enter 4.
Width: Enter 4.
Height: Enter 10.
If you want, you can also define a label for each package and assign the case a
specific color.
8. If all your package dimensions are correct, click on OK.
System Response: MixPro saves the new package to the database. The MixPro
Tray Editor re-appears with the name of the new package included in the package
list.
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 to create the ArmorAll Cloth Packets. Use these dimensions:
Style: Use the drop-down box to select a tray template (in this exercise,
2alarm1.tpr).
Name: Enter ArmorAll Cloth.
Length: Enter 8.
Width: Enter 1.
Height: Enter 10.
10. In order to place a package onto the tray, you have to move it from the package list to
the pick list. To move an item to the pick list, select an item from the package list
and click on the Add button.

11. To load the item onto the tray, click on the image of the item and drag it onto the
tray.
System Response: The system copies an image of the item to the tray area.
Repeat this step until the tray contains six ArmorAll spray bottles. When you’ve
done this, the screen will look similar to the one pictured below.

12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 to place 12 ArmorAll Cloth Packets onto the tray. When
you’ve loaded the tray with spray bottles and cloth packets, your tray will look
similar to the tray pictured on the next page.
13. If the ArmorAll tray is the way you want it, open the File menu and select the Save
As option.
System Response: The Save As dialog box appears, as pictured below.
14. Select a location where the file will be saved. In the File name field, enter the name
of the mixed tray (ArmorAll).
15. Click on the Save button.
System Response: MixPro saves the tray to the database.

16. Exit MixPro Tray.
System Response: The Control Panel appears.
17. From the Toolbar at the top of the Control Panel, click on the MixPro Mixed Pallet
Editor icon – .
System Response: The MixPro Pallet Editor appears, as pictured below.

17. To add the mixed tray (shipcase) to the pallet, select the ArmorAll shipcase and click
on the Add button.
System Response: MixPro adds the tray (shipcase) to the pick list and displays a
graphic of the tray (shipcase), as pictured below.
18. Drag and drop the shipcases onto the pallet until the unitload is complete.
Note: For instructions on how to load shipcases onto a pallet, please refer to the next
section, MixPro Pallet Editor.
19. To display the contents of the shipcases, go to the Toolbar at the top of the MixPro
Pallet Editor and click on the MixPro Tray Design Editor icon – .
System Response: The MixPro Pallet Editor re-appears to show the contents of the
package, as pictured on the next page.

MixPro Pallet Editor
To access the MixPro Pallet module, go to the Toolbar and click on the MixPro Mixed
Pallet Editor icon – .
System Response: The MixPro Pallet Editor appears, as pictured below.
Notice the following features on the MixPro Pallet Editor:
Pallet Button: Allows you to select a pallet for loading shipcases.
Shipcase List: Displays a list of shipcases that you can add to the pick list for
loading onto the pallet.
Add Button: Moves a selected item from the shipcase list to the pick list.
Delete Button: Deletes a selected item from the shipcase list.
New Button: Opens the Define Shipcase dialog box and allows you to create a new
shipcase. Use this function if the shipcase list does not include the shipcase you
need.
Remove Button: Removes a selected shipcase from the pick list.
Modify Button: Opens the Define Shipcase dialog box, which allows you to modify
a newly created shipcase.
Note: The Modify function applies only to shipcases created in MixPro. You cannot
modify shipcases created in TOPS Pro. Also, you cannot modify a shipcase that’s
already loaded onto the pallet.
Layer Button: Opens the Layer Generation Screen, which allows you to create and
select a layer configuration and specify a number of layers.
Pick List: Displays a list of shipcases you’ve selected from the shipcase list. These
shipcases can be loaded onto the pallet. The pick list also tracks the following
information for each type of shipcase: number of cases, length, width and height.

Pallet Display Window: Displays an image of the pallet and allows you to drag
shipcases onto the pallet.
Snap Toolbar: Allows you to move the unitload flush to any corner or side of the
pallet.
In this exercise, we’ll create a mixed pallet load that consists of the following:
15 cases of chocolate bars
32 cases of peanut bars
30 cases of corn chips
To load this mixed pallet, follow these instructions:
1. Click on the Pallet button.
System Response: The Pallet Parameters dialog box appears, as pictured on the next
page.
2. Use the following fields to define the pallet parameters:
Pallet: Use the default (GMA [Notched]).
Length Overhang: Use the default (0).
Width Overhang: Use the default (0).
Maximum Height (Including Pallet): Enter 56.
Maximum Weight: Use the default (0).
3. Look at the shipcase list and decide which items you want to load onto the pallet. In
this exercise, we want the mixed pallet load to include chocolate bars, peanut bars
and corn chips.
Notice that the initial shipcase list does not include any of these items. In this case,
MixPro allows you to create new shipcases for these items. To create a new
shipcase, click on the New button.
System Response: The Define Shipcase dialog box appears, as pictured here.

4. Use the following fields to define the three shipcases:
Chocolate Bars Shipcase
Style: Use the drop-down list to select a shipcase template.
Name: Enter Chocolate Bars.
Length: Enter 16.
Width: Enter 12.
Height: Enter 10.
Peanut Bars Shipcase
Style: Use the drop-down list to select a shipcase template.
Name: Enter Peanut Bars.
Length: Enter 12.
Width: Enter 6.
Height: Enter 12.
Corn Chips Shipcase
Style: Use the drop-down list to select a shipcase template.
Name: Enter Corn Chips.
Length: Enter 10.
Width: Enter 9.
Height: Enter 10.
When your shipcase dimensions are correct, click on OK..
System Response: The MixPro Pallet Editor redisplays with the name of the new
shipcase included in the shipcase list. When you’ve created these three new
shipcases, the shipcase list will include chocolate bars, peanut bars and corn chips.
6. In order to load an item onto the pallet, you have to move it from the shipcase list to
the pick list. To move an item to the pick list, select an item from the shipcase list
and click on the Add button.
Repeat this step for each item you want to select to the pick list. In this exercise,
we’re loading three items – chocolate bars, peanut bars and corn chips.
7. From the pick list, select an item to be loaded onto the pallet. In this exercise, we’ll
select the chocolate bars first.
Note: To change the orientation of the case – for example, position it on its side or
on its end – click on the face of the shipcase you want to face the floor. Click on the
top of the case to rotate 90 degrees.

8. To load the item onto the pallet, click on the image of the shipcase and drag it onto
the pallet.
In the figure above, the shipcase is sitting a few inches from the closest edge of the pallet.
We want the case to sit flush in the top left corner of the pallet. The Snap feature allows
you to position the shipcase flush against any part of the pallet you choose.
9. Click on the red X to activate the Snap feature, then click on the button. Click on
the shipcase and drag it to the top left corner of the pallet.
10. We've loaded the first of 15 cases of chocolate bars onto the pallet. To complete the
unitload, follow the guidelines outlined at the end of this chapter.
Continue to load cases until you’ve loaded 15 cases of chocolate bars to the pallet,
forming a wall along the backside of the pallet. Your unitload will look similar to the
one pictured below.

11.To begin adding the next item onto the pallet (the peanut bars), select it from
the pick list. The case pictured in the g.o.d. window changes to the newly
selected case.
Complete the mixed pallet load until the unitload contains the following items:
15 cases of chocolate bars
32 cases of peanut bars
30 cases of corn chips

Layer Configurations
MixPro allows you to configure layers of shipcases on a pallet.
1. Click on the Layers button.
Notice the following about the Layer Generation Screen:
A list of layer configurations is displayed in the lower portion of the screen. For
each configuration, the screen displays pattern type, count (number of cases in a
layer), area percentage, length, width and height.
The layer configuration display shows an illustration of the selected configuration
in the upper portion of the screen. This display also provides dimensions for length,
width and height.
The Layer Number box allows you to specify the number of layers in the configuration.
To use the Layer Generation feature, follow these instructions:
1. Select the layer configuration you want for the mixed pallet load.
2. Select the number of layers you want in the configuration.
3. Click on OK.
System Response: MixPro applies the selected layer parameters to the mixed
pallet load and redisplays the MixPro Pallet Editor.