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Lenny
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Hello

Post by Lenny »

I'm Lenny and I work for a company called flecktarn.co.uk. We provide military equipment world wide. I've set myself a small project on this Friday and have run into a brick wall as far as Royal Mail is concerned.

We send our products world wide using a veriety of couriers, incuding Royal Mail. One of our problems has been a spelling mistakes, especially when entering tracking numbers. So I'm trying to automate the process by predicting the next tracking number that comes of a Royal Mail Special delivery or Signed for roll.

The tracking number consists of two letters, say DH followed by 8 numbers like 12345678 and then one Checksum number like 6. Finally there is the GB. So you end up with:

DH 1234 5678 6GB. My problem is trying to predict the checksum number.

A checksum is a character derived from previous ones that does not speciffically provide information but instead validates it. An example would be to add up all the numbers: 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8 = 36. Take the last number of 36 = 6. In this case 6 would be the checksum.

If there is a typing mistake eg: DH 1244 5678 6GB then 1+2+4+4+5+6+7+8 = 37. Take the last number of 37 = 7. The checksum however is 6. We now know that the number is invalid. This is usefull, because we do not want to give out someone else's tracking information.

What I need to know is, how the Royal mail tracking number's checksum is derived to I can predict it and stop spelling mistakes when entering the tracking number.

I've spoken to everyone in Royal mail from the tracking to complaints to customer services but I can't find anyone who knows the process. I really hope someone here is going to come through for me!
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POSTMAN
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Post by POSTMAN »

Had a look at your site so you're kosha,but what you're doing sounds dodgy to me.
Doubt if anyone can help you,even if they could i'd stop them. :no no
I Wrote-During Covid-Which is still relevant now
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox, so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
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The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
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POSTMAN
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Post by POSTMAN »

Oh ps:You aint got any Sky cards have ya.
I Wrote-During Covid-Which is still relevant now
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox, so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
Lenny
Posts: 7
Joined: 24 Aug 2007, 11:50

Post by Lenny »

POSTMAN wrote:Had a look at your site so you're kosha,but what you're doing sounds dodgy to me.
Doubt if anyone can help you,even if they could i'd stop them. :no no
Dodgy? What on earth do you mean??? Most of our couriers provide a way of accessing the required data; ie. ANC (Now part of Fedex) have a means of importing the created tracking number. Since the royal mail system is paper based the only viable path is prediction. What part of that exactly is dodgy?


There is a way of finding out what the checksum is. Say for ZH66666666?GB Go to the royal mail website : http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/track

Punch in:
ZH666666660GB = error message
ZH666666661GB = error message
ZH666666662GB = error message
ZH666666663GB = error message
ZH666666664GB = error message
ZH666666665GB = Not yet active.

Ergo the checksum in this case is 5. The checksum is just that. Its purpose is to people inadvertently entering an incorrect number and getting someone else's tracking data. No part of this is 'Dodgy' and frankly I resent the implication. Please delete this tread when you've read this then!
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POSTMAN
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Post by POSTMAN »

Unless i've missed something.
Why do you want to predict the next tracking number that comes of a Royal Mail Special delivery or Signed for roll.
How do you send your specials,do you go to a PO?
If you do then what you are after is none of your business as the next sticker will be used by someone else.
And if they are collected by us,you would have the roll with you.
Please explain.
I Wrote-During Covid-Which is still relevant now
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox, so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
Lenny
Posts: 7
Joined: 24 Aug 2007, 11:50

Post by Lenny »

Why do you want to predict the next tracking number that comes of a Royal Mail Special delivery or Signed for roll.
We have big rolls of about 300 consecutive tracking stickers for Royal Mail Special Delivery and Signed for. If we send packages by Royal Mail, we rip one sticker of the roll, and enter the tracking number into the application: AB 1234 5678 4GB. Next package, we enter ZH 1234 5679 8GB. A few times now, spelling mistakes have rendered the tracking number useless and our customers contact royal mail and us in order to resolve a typing mistake.

I want to know the tracking number in advance, so in stead of having to type it in, they just have to double check, thus eliminating typing mistakes. Alternatively, when the whole number needs to be entered (at beginning of a roll), I can check the tracking number is valid (using the checksum).
How do you send your specials,do you go to a PO?
We do not go to a po. We have a direct pickup from our premisis. We fill in a number of docket books which are sighned on collection against the drivers badge number.
If you do then what you are after is none of your business as the next sticker will be used by someone else.
The next sticker will also be used by as as we order rolls of stickers from Royal Mail. The contain several hundret stickers, all consecutive appart from the checksum. Even if they were not consecutive, I could still check if the entered tracking code is corrcted by evaluating it agains the checksum. Why wait until they enter the tracking number into the royal mail website. If it has been entered incorrectly, the person who has mistyped it should be told, not our customer!
And if they are collected by us,you would have the roll with you.


Yes, we have rolls here, on our premisis, delivered when required by royal mail.


I think that what I am doing is admirable. Our customers won't get any more mistyped numbers. Our staff won't have to type in the number. Royal mail won't get calls about mistyped numbers. Only good can come out of this. (incidentaly, I run validation checkes on credit card numbers and that information is freely available) If you think this is above your pay grade, or its not your place to tell, than at least put me in touch with someone who has the authority.
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POSTMAN
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Post by POSTMAN »

Ok 1st of all my pay grade,with hopefully this years rise i'm on bog cleaning duty,so things are looking good personally.
Also i think your pay grades that are writing the numbers down and making mistakes should be kept behind after skool to do the effing thing properly!

But on a serious note,although i'm semi serious as i'm well chuffed about my rise even if trap 2 is always blocked,i'll move this to the Post Office forum,maybe a guy who wears Primark suits can help.

PS:Dont forget to tip your Postes this Xmas :Very Happy
PPS:I'm still confused :crazy:
PPPS:Do you do combat thongs :neutral:
I Wrote-During Covid-Which is still relevant now
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox, so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
Lenny
Posts: 7
Joined: 24 Aug 2007, 11:50

Post by Lenny »

check appendic C: http://www.mailsorttechnical.com/docs/K ... 6_v1.6.pdf

something like this but for the paper lables...
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POSTMAN
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Post by POSTMAN »

I've pointed the thread to someone who works at our head office,hopefully he'll come on and help you out.
I Wrote-During Covid-Which is still relevant now
It's good to get these types of threads, the ridiculous my manager said bollox, so we can reassure ourselves that while the world is falling apart, Royal Mail managers are still being the low-life C***S they have always been.
My BFF Clash
The daily grind of having to argue your case with an intellectual pigmy of a line manager is physically and emotionally draining.
Lenny
Posts: 7
Joined: 24 Aug 2007, 11:50

Post by Lenny »

Appreciated
jafferpants
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Post by jafferpants »

JUST BEEN THROUGH ALL OF THAT FOR CHRIST SAKE SOMEONE GET ME AN ASPRIN I HAVN'T GOT A f***ing CLUE WHAT YOUR ALL ON ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:
postie28
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Post by postie28 »

jafferpants wrote:JUST BEEN THROUGH ALL OF THAT FOR CHRIST SAKE SOMEONE GET ME AN ASPRIN I HAVN'T GOT A f***ing CLUE WHAT YOUR ALL ON ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:


know how you feel. i'm off for a lie down after trying to figure all that out :d'oh! :crazy:
TrueBlueTerrier
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Post by TrueBlueTerrier »

I think I know what he wants but I cant help its definitely RM HQ level.

In plain English he wants the hidden programme behind that Specials Number (They are not sequential AFAIK) so what he needs is the matrix that says

ZH 4521 5746 7GB is ok and accepts it

but if

ZH 4521 5747 7GB is not it will flag it up on the terminal so that the operator can recheck he has typed it ok.
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Lenny
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Post by Lenny »

TrueBlueTerrier wrote:I think I know what he wants but I cant help its definitely RM HQ level.
RM HQ sounds good ... whoom there do I need to talk to.
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Hmmm...

Post by Codebreaker »


Lenny, my friend.....

Are you having a giraffe?????





GOOD LUCK TO US ALL AND HAVE FAITH
It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.
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