How to Set Up an Adaptive Packing Station

An adaptive packing station is a packing station wired with Xbox Adaptive Controller buttons, so packers can enter a package type, print a label or invoice, or complete an order with a button press. To set one up, wire the hardware, install the free AntiMicro program on each Windows packing station, map the buttons to ShipHero input codes, and copy the profile to your other stations.

Before You Begin

• Account: You can adapt your packing stations to use game controller buttons if you are a current ShipHero WMS client.
• Operating system: Each packing station must run a Windows operating system.

Table of Contents

• Gather Adaptive Packing Station Hardware
• Configure Adaptive Packing Station Hardware
• Set Up Windows and AntiMicro for an Adaptive Packing Station
• Configure AntiMicro Software for an Adaptive Packing Station
• Copy the AntiMicro Profile to Other Adaptive Packing Stations

Gather Adaptive Packing Station Hardware

Each adaptive packing station requires the following hardware:

• Xbox Adaptive Controller
• Logitech Adaptive Gaming Kit

This hardware can be purchased directly from Microsoft or from retailers such as Best Buy. Prices are typically the same.

The Xbox Adaptive Controller is the core component. It has two oversized buttons that can withstand constant heavy use and ports for up to 15 additional input sources. The Logitech kit provides 10 more buttons that you can place wherever you need them around the packing station.

You may also need:

• 3.5mm male to female mono extension cables (various lengths available)

Extension cables provide the range needed to place buttons in convenient locations around the station.

Configure Adaptive Packing Station Hardware

An adaptive packing station has 17 buttons that you can program with different input codes. Assign two of them to the core functions: print a label or invoice, and complete an order. You can assign the remaining 15 as needed.

The following example shows an adaptive packing station wired with additional buttons:

The top row of five buttons allows a packer to input box size:

The bottom row of five buttons inputs the bag size:

All buttons are wired to the Adaptive Controller using 3.5mm extension cords:

Label the cord ends with the button they connect to to reduce confusion.

The number of peripheral buttons will vary depending on your needs. If you have multiple adaptive packing stations, each should use an identical layout and number of buttons. This keeps the configuration consistent and simplifies troubleshooting.

Set Up Windows and AntiMicro for an Adaptive Packing Station

Each packing station must run a Windows operating system. On each Windows machine, download the following software:

• AntiMicro 2.23 for Windows

AntiMicro is a free, open-source program that lets you assign custom input to gamepad buttons. To install, download the installer from SourceForge, navigate to the download directory, and double-click the installer file. You may need administrator permission to approve the installation.

After you run the installer, a new AntiMicro icon appears on your desktop.

Next, configure Windows to allow use of all gamepad buttons. Navigate to Windows settings and select Gaming.

Make sure the Xbox Game Bar is switched Off and that the option Open Xbox Game Bar is unchecked:

This allows you to map new input to one additional button on the gamepad.

Configure AntiMicro Software for an Adaptive Packing Station

Setting up the software profile is the most complex part of the setup, but you only need to complete a full configuration once. After creating a correctly configured profile on one packing station, you can copy the file to every other station using the same hardware setup.

Define Adaptive Packing Station Input Codes

Before programming AntiMicro, you need to know the input values that allow the gamepad to communicate with ShipHero.

ShipHero expects two types of input at a packing station:

• Command codes: These instruct the software to perform a specific function. Command codes are the same in every warehouse.
• Packaging types: These are labels for the types of packing materials used at a station. Packaging types are unique to each warehouse.

Common command codes are listed below:

• Print Labels: sh0002
• Print Invoice: sh0001
• Print Invoice & Label: sh0003
• Get Weight from Scale: sh0005
• Add Package: sh0010
• Take Parcelview: sh0009
• Complete Order: sh0004

Your warehouse may already use ShipHero's standard barcode commands cheat sheet. You can view the ShipHero standard barcode commands cheat sheet.

When scanned by a barcode reader, these barcodes are translated into command codes that ShipHero can understand. To find a code, open a text document in Notepad or another text editor and scan a barcode with your scanner. A series of letters and numbers will appear in the document corresponding to that barcode. For example, scanning the "Print Labels" barcode from the cheat sheet will produce "sh0002".

Packaging types can also be determined using a predefined barcode, a handheld scanner, and an open text document. However, your warehouse may not assign barcodes to every package type. To view a complete list of packaging types for your warehouse, go to Shipping > Boxes in ShipHero. You will need the codes for every category of packaging used at your station. To set up shipping boxes and assign barcodes, see How to Set Up Shipping Boxes in ShipHero.

Run AntiMicro for an Adaptive Packing Station

Once you have a complete list of command codes and packaging types, you are ready to use AntiMicro.

Double-click the AntiMicro icon on your desktop to launch the program. The window should look like this:

If AntiMicro cannot detect a gamepad, see Troubleshooting: Adaptive Packing Station.

Map Adaptive Controller Buttons in AntiMicro

Once AntiMicro is running and has detected the Adaptive Controller, you can begin assigning input.

ShipHero recommends using the A (left side) and B (right side) buttons on the Adaptive Controller to input command codes. Use the A button as a multipurpose process-advancing trigger and the B button to complete an order. A dedicated "complete order" button reduces the chance of mistakes. Use the peripheral buttons to input packaging types.

The steps below show how to assign input to both the A and B buttons.

From the AntiMicro main screen, use the mouse to select the A button. This corresponds to the left large button on the Adaptive Controller.

This opens the key assignment window. Use the Name field at the bottom to enter a descriptive name for the button. The Current field will show "[NO KEY]" until an action is defined.

After naming the button, select Advanced. In the example below, the name is "Print LabelInv Photo" because the A button will take a photograph using ParcelView, then print the invoice and label.

The advanced keymapping settings let you define a sequence of actions for a single button press. For the A button, a single press will trigger five actions:

1. Input the Take Parcelview command to photograph the package using ParcelView
2. Input the ENTER key
3. Pause for half a second to ensure ShipHero is ready for the next command
4. Input the Print Invoice & Label command
5. Input the ENTER key again

Create each action in sequential order. For the first action, enter the command code for Take Parcelview. From the cheat sheet, this code is "sh0009". Select the first tile at the top of the window by clicking outside the small blank rectangle to highlight it in blue:

Use the central dropdown menu to select Text Entry, then input "sh0009" in the text field. Click Insert when finished.

For the second action, assign an ENTER key input. Select the second tile by clicking inside the small blank rectangle until it shows three dots:

Now press the ENTER key:

The second action is now defined.

For the third action, assign a half-second pause. Select the third tile by clicking outside the inner rectangle to highlight it in blue:

Use the central dropdown menu to select Pause, then use the small dropdown at the bottom of the window to set the duration to 0.5 seconds:

Click Insert. The third tile should now read "Pause 00.50":

For the fourth action, input another command code. The code for Print Invoice & Label is "sh0003". Select the fourth tile by clicking outside the inner rectangle to highlight it in blue. Choose Text Entry from the dropdown and input "sh0003". Click Insert when finished.

For the fifth action, assign another ENTER key input. Select the fifth tile by clicking inside the small rectangle until it displays three dots:

Press the ENTER key:

All five actions are now assigned to the A button. Close the Advanced window and the Key Assignment window to return to the main menu.

From the AntiMicro main menu, select the B button. This corresponds to the right large button on the Adaptive Controller.

Name the button "Complete Order" before opening the Advanced window:

The B button will trigger two actions on a single press:

1. Input the Complete Order command
2. Input the ENTER key

The command code for Complete Order is "sh0004". Select the first tile by clicking outside the small blank rectangle:

Choose Text Entry from the dropdown and input "sh0004". Click Insert when finished.

Next, select the second tile by clicking inside the small rectangle until it displays three dots:

Press the ENTER key:

Two input actions are now mapped to the B button.

Assigning input to peripheral buttons will depend on how many packaging types you use and which port each button is connected to on the Adaptive Controller.

The example below shows a completed key mapping for an adaptive packing station:

Change AntiMicro Program Settings for an Adaptive Packing Station

After assigning functions to all buttons, select Save As from the main menu and name your profile. Save the file to your local machine so it can be loaded every time the program starts.

It is also important to configure AntiMicro to autoload this profile and prevent packers from accidentally closing the program.

Select Options > Settings.

In the left-hand menu, navigate to General and check the boxes next to Close To Tray, Launch At Windows Startup, Auto Load Last Opened Profile, Launch in Tray, and Associate Profiles.

With these settings, AntiMicro will start when the system boots, load your customized input automatically, and continue running in the background. Closing to the tray also reduces the chance of the program being accidentally deactivated while the station is in use.

Packing station users do not need to interact with AntiMicro at all. It runs entirely in the background.

Copy the AntiMicro Profile to Other Adaptive Packing Stations

After configuring the AntiMicro profile on one packing station, you can copy that profile to every other station using the same button configuration.

Profiles are saved as AMGP files. Copy the profile to a USB thumb drive, then save the AMGP file on the next workstation.

Once saved, open AntiMicro on the new machine, select Load, and open the local file. Then navigate to Options > Settings and check the same boxes as on the first machine.

Repeat this process for every adaptive packing station using the same layout.