ABF Freight System, Inc. - Transparent Links, Document Retrieval

Document Retrieval can be linked to directly with two different formats:

1. Direct connection from your Web page

This type of connection enables you to insert an HTML form or direct link into your Web page that connects to the ABF Web site.

The HTML form allows your customers to retrieve document images for your ABF shipments by the ABF pro number, bill of lading, purchase order number or customer reference number. An example of the form is provided below with the HTML needed to create the form found in the textarea box.

Example Form:

Reference Number:		Type:
Document Type:
Image Type:

Form HTML:

[select all]

<FORM METHOD="POST" ACTION="http://www.abfs.com/docret/ABFDocRet.asp">

<TABLE BORDER="0">
      <TR>
        <TD VALIGN="MIDDLE" ALIGN="LEFT">Reference Number:</TD>
        <TD VALIGN="MIDDLE" ALIGN="LEFT">
   	  <INPUT TYPE="TEXT" NAME="refNum" SIZE="22" MAXLENGTH="20"></TD>
        <TD VALIGN="MIDDLE" ALIGN="LEFT">Type:</TD>
        <TD VALIGN="MIDDLE" ALIGN="LEFT">

<SELECT NAME="refType" SIZE="1">
        <OPTION VALUE="a" SELECTED="SELECTED">ABF Pro #</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="b">Bill of Lading #</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="p">Purchase Order #</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="c">Customer Reference #</OPTION>
        </SELECT>

</TD>
      </TR>

<TR>
        <TD VALIGN="MIDDLE" ALIGN="LEFT">Document Type:</TD>
        <TD VALIGN="MIDDLE" ALIGN="LEFT" COLSPAN="3">

<SELECT NAME="docType" SIZE="1">
        <OPTION VALUE="ALL">All Available Document Types</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="BOL">Bill Of Lading</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="DR" SELECTED="SELECTED">Delivery Receipt / Proof Of Delivery</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="INV">Invoice</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="PSL">Packing Slip</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="WSL">Weight and Research Certificate</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="WRP">Weight and Research Picture</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="WINS">Weight and Research Inspection</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="CUS">Customs Document</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="CBL">Corrected Bill Of Lading</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="CON">Contract (Timekeeper, Turnkey, U-Pack)</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="RECO">Reconsignment Authorization</OPTION>
        </SELECT>

</TD>
      </TR>

<TR>
        <TD VALIGN="MIDDLE" ALIGN="LEFT">Image Type:</TD>
        <TD VALIGN="MIDDLE" ALIGN="LEFT" COLSPAN="3">

<SELECT NAME="imageType" SIZE="1">
        <OPTION VALUE="L" SELECTED="SELECTED">JPEG Low</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="H">JPEG High</OPTION>
        <OPTION VALUE="T">TIFF</OPTION>
        </SELECT>

</TD>
      </TR>

<INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="strTitle" VALUE="Your Page Title Here">
    <INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="strReturnLink" VALUE="http://www.abfs.com/">
    <INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="strReturnLinkText" VALUE="Your Return Link Text Here">
    <INPUT TYPE="HIDDEN" NAME="blnABFGraphic" VALUE="true">

</FORM>

The direct link allows your customers to retrieve document images for your ABF shipments via a link on your Web page. An example is provided below where RefNum is the reference number to retrieve, RefType is the type of reference number, DocType is the type of document to retrieve and ImageType is the image type to download. Note that RefNum, RefType and DocType are the only required parameters for the link to work.

Example:

http://www.abfs.com/docret/ABFDocRet.asp?blnABFGraphic=TRUE
&RefNum=011222333&RefType=A&DocType=BOL&ImageType=L

Click here for more information on this client to server method.

2. Direct Connection from your server to the ABF server via XML

This type of server to server connection enables you to retrieve document images by making a direct call to the ABF server from your server. The ABF server will return an XML document that you can parse to extract the exact information and return a dynamic page to your customer. The following is the XML data-type definition for the document returned by this type of document retrieval:


`<ABF>`					ABF Document Retrieval Data Type Definition.
	`<DOCUMENTS>`				Group of requested document image paths. This section will only be returned when there are no errors in originally entered information (NUMERRORS = 0).
		`<DOCUMENT>`			Single document image.
			`<TYPE>`		Type of document (see below for document types).
			`<PAGES>`		Group of pages of document.
				`<PAGE>`	Single document page.
			`</PAGES>`
		`</DOCUMENT>`
	`</DOCUMENTS>`
	`<NUMERRORS>`				Number of errors associated with request. Must be "0" to return document image.
	`<ERRORS>`				Group of errors. This section will only be returned if NUMERRORS > 0. Click here for a list of possible error codes and messages.
		`<ERRORCODE>`			Code associated with error.
		`<ERRORMESSAGE>`			Message assigned to error code.
	`</ERRORS>`
`</ABF>`

To call the XML document retrieval from your server, you must be using an XML parser. Initialize the parser and set the URL to the following:

Note: Required variables are in Red. All other variables are optional.

Start with this URL: http://www.abfs.com/xml/docretxml.asp?DL=2

Add the following variables:

AcctNum Your 6-character ABF account number.

Password Your 6-character ABF password.

RefNum The reference number to retrieve.

RefType The type of reference number:

"A" for ABF Pro #.

"B" for Bill Of Lading #.

"P" for Purchase Order #.

"C" for Customer Reference #.

DocType The type of document to retrieve:

"ALL" for all available document types.

"BOL" for Bill Of Lading.

"DR" for Delivery Receipt / Proof Of Delivery.

"INV" for Invoice.

"PSL" for Packing Slip.

"WSL" for Weight and Research Certificate.

"WRP" for Weight and Research Picture.

"WINS" for Weight and Research Inspection.

"CUS" for Customs Document.

"CBL" for Corrected Bill Of Lading.

"CON" for Contract (Timekeeper, Turnkey, U-Pack).

"RECO" for Reconsignment Authorization.

ImageType The type of image to download:

"L" for JPEG Low (default).

"H" for JPEG High.

"T" for TIFF.

Example: http://www.abfs.com/xml/docretxml.asp?DL=2
&AcctNum=999999&Password=TEST01&RefNum=011222333
&RefType=A&DocType=BOL&ImageType=L

Click here for more information on this server to server method.

For more information on XML authoring, parsers, specifications, and additional resources, check out the XML section of the Web Developer's Virtual Library.