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Quick start: receive, ship and trace DSCSA product

Core module For: Administrator Checked on 18.0.0.2.0

In this lesson you buy a sealed case of 24 bottles from a demo supplier, receive it with the supplier's EPCIS (Electronic Product Code Information Services) file and one scan, sell and ship two bottles to a demo pharmacy, open the DSCSA document the shipment creates, and trace one bottle from supplier to customer. At the end you have a received case, a shipped order, a T3 PDF (transaction information, history and statement) and an EPCIS file you can download. It takes about 30 minutes.

EPCIS is the GS1 file format for the transaction data that suppliers send and that the software writes for your customers; a GLN (Global Location Number) identifies a company or a site. The glossary explains these abbreviations.

Before you start​

  • A test Odoo 18 database (Community or Enterprise) created with demo data (the Demo data checkbox of Odoo's database manager), with Rx Tracking (DSCSA), Sales and Contacts installed. See Install Rx Tracking (DSCSA). Never do this lesson on the database you work in: it creates records that can't be deleted.
  • No purchase order was created in that database yet, so the one you create is P00012, the order the sample file names.
  • You are logged in as the administrator.
  • The sample files, downloaded to your computer from Sample files: epcis_bluepeak_DEMO-DPZ-20_24ea_P00012.xml (the supplier's EPCIS file) and datamatrix_bluepeak_DEMO-DPZ-20_24ea_P00012.txt (the 24 bottles' 2D barcodes, as text).

Everything in the demo data and the sample files is fictitious.

1. Look at the demo trading partners​

  1. Go to Contacts.

  2. Open the search options (the ▾ at the right of the search bar) and select Authorized Trading Partners.

  3. Select the list view (the ☰ icon at the top right).

    Result: the list shows the five demo companies the software lets you buy from and sell to: Bluepeak Pharmaceuticals Inc., Cedar Valley Drug Distributors LLC, Hillcrest Family Pharmacy, Mercy Valley Hospital Pharmacy and Riverside Community Pharmacy, plus Riverside's Receiving delivery address.

    Screenshot of the Contacts list filtered on Authorized Trading Partners; the filter facet is outlined.

Notice that each of them has a DSCSA role and a verified license; open one and look at its DSCSA tab and its Licenses smart button (under More). Without them, confirming an order for a DSCSA product is refused.

2. Set the company GLN​

  1. Go to Inventory ‣ Configuration ‣ Settings and scroll to the DSCSA (Rx Tracking) block.

  2. Under Company GLN, in GLN, enter 0614141005000.

  3. Select Save.

    Result: the settings are saved and GS1 prefix length appears under GLN.

    Screenshot of the DSCSA (Rx Tracking) settings block with the company GLN 0614141005000; the GLN field is outlined.

Notice that the demo data leaves your company without a GLN: the sample file is addressed to this GLN, and your outgoing documents name it.

3. Buy a case from Bluepeak​

  1. Go to Purchase ‣ Orders ‣ Requests for Quotation and select New.

  2. In Vendor, choose Bluepeak Pharmaceuticals Inc.

  3. On the Products tab, select Add a product, choose [DEMO-DPZ-20] Demoprazole 20 mg Delayed-Release Capsules, 30 count and enter 24 in Quantity.

  4. Select Confirm Order.

    Result: the order is P00012, in the Purchase Order state, with a Receipt smart button.

    Screenshot of purchase order P00012 from Bluepeak for 24 Demoprazole, confirmed; the Receipt smart button is outlined.

Notice that the order confirmed without a message: Bluepeak is an authorized trading partner.

4. Import the supplier's EPCIS file​

  1. Select the Receipt smart button.

    Result: the receipt WH/IN/00007 opens, Ready, with the buttons Scan Serials and Import EPCIS.

  2. Select Import EPCIS.

    Result: the Import Supplier EPCIS File dialog opens, with the receipt in Receipt.

  3. Select Upload your file, choose epcis_bluepeak_DEMO-DPZ-20_24ea_P00012.xml, then select Import.

    Result: the new Supplier EPCIS File epcis_bluepeak_DEMO-DPZ-20_24ea_P00012.xml opens in the Awaiting Receipt state. Its Received / Expected smart button shows 0 / 24, and Buyer GLN and Ship-to GLN show your GLN, 0614141005000.

    Screenshot of the imported supplier EPCIS file, Awaiting Receipt; the Received / Expected smart button, 0 / 24, is outlined.

Notice that the file has no Warnings tab: it names your company, your order number and the product the receipt expects. Its Packages list shows the 24 serial numbers the supplier announced, all Expected.

5. Scan the sealed case​

  1. In the breadcrumb at the top, select WH/IN/00007.

    Result: the receipt has the smart buttons EPCIS Files and Expected (24), and an Expected (EPCIS) tab.

  2. Select Scan Serials.

    Result: the Scan DSCSA Serials dialog opens.

  3. In the scan box (under Product for an unknown GTIN), scan the case label, or enter its number: 00003999900000004175.

    Screenshot of the Scan DSCSA Serials dialog with the case label 00003999900000004175 entered; the Register button is outlined.

  4. Select Register.

    Result: the dialog closes and the chatter says "24 DSCSA package(s) scanned.". The Expected smart button and the Expected (EPCIS) tab are gone, and the DSCSA Packages tab lists the 24 bottles as Received.

Notice that one scan of the case label received all 24 bottles, because the supplier's file lists what is inside the sealed case. Without the file, you scan each bottle: the DataMatrix file has one line per bottle.

6. Validate the receipt​

  1. Select Validate.

    Result: the receipt is Done. On the DSCSA Packages tab the 24 bottles are In Stock, and a DSCSA Documents smart button (1) appears.

    Screenshot of receipt WH/IN/00007, Done, with 24 bottles In Stock; the DSCSA Documents smart button is outlined.

  2. Select the DSCSA Documents smart button.

    Result: the inbound document DSCSA/IN/2026/00001 opens, Posted, with Direction Inbound (received) and Trading Partner Bluepeak Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Notice that the supplier's file is now kept as a posted record: Chain Position 1 and a Hash show that it is the first link of the document chain.

7. Sell and ship two bottles to Riverside​

  1. Go to Sales ‣ Orders ‣ Quotations and select New.

  2. In Customer, choose Riverside Community Pharmacy.

  3. On the Order Lines tab, select Add a product, choose [DEMO-DPZ-20] Demoprazole 20 mg Delayed-Release Capsules, 30 count and enter 2 in Quantity.

  4. Select Confirm.

    Result: the quotation becomes a Sales Order (for example S00025) with a Delivery smart button.

  5. Select the Delivery smart button.

    Result: the delivery (for example WH/OUT/00012) opens, Ready, with Delivery Address Riverside Community Pharmacy, Receiving.

  6. Select Scan Serials, scan two bottles, or paste the first two lines of datamatrix_bluepeak_DEMO-DPZ-20_24ea_P00012.txt:

    (01)00399990101300(21)100000000001(17)280630(10)BPDPZ2509A
    (01)00399990101300(21)100000000002(17)280630(10)BPDPZ2509A

  7. Select Register, then select the DSCSA Packages tab.

    Result: the chatter says "2 DSCSA package(s) scanned." and the tab lists serials 100000000001 and 100000000002.

    Screenshot of delivery WH/OUT/00012 to Riverside with two scanned bottles on the DSCSA Packages tab, which is outlined.

  8. Select Validate.

    Result: the delivery is Done, the two bottles are Shipped, and a DSCSA Documents smart button appears.

Notice that the software checked each scanned bottle against the package ledger: it must be in stock, of the ordered product and of the reserved lot.

8. Open the DSCSA document​

  1. Select the DSCSA Documents smart button.

    Result: the outbound document DSCSA/OUT/2026/00001 opens, Posted, with Direction Outbound (sent), Trading Partner Riverside Community Pharmacy, and the buttons Download T3 and Download EPCIS.

    Screenshot of the posted outbound DSCSA document DSCSA/OUT/2026/00001 for Riverside; the Download T3 button is outlined.

  2. Select Download T3.

    Result: your browser downloads T3-DSCSA-OUT-2026-00001.pdf, the transaction information, transaction history and Transaction Statement for Riverside.

  3. Select Download EPCIS.

    Result: your browser downloads EPCIS-DSCSA-OUT-2026-00001.xml.

  4. Select the Transaction History tab.

    Result: two lines: This Document's Transaction (your company to Riverside, S00025) and Received from Trading Partner (Bluepeak to your company, P00012).

Notice that you never typed the history: the software built it from the receipt of step 6.

9. Trace a bottle​

  1. Go to Inventory ‣ Rx Tracking ‣ Packages.

  2. In the search bar, remove the In Stock filter (the × on its facet): a shipped bottle is not in stock.

  3. Enter 100000000001 in the search bar and press Enter.

    Result: one package, Shipped, with Shipped To Riverside Community Pharmacy.

  4. Open it.

    Result: the package form shows the bottle's GTIN (Global Trade Item Number), lot BPDPZ2509A, expiry, case SSCC (Serial Shipping Container Code) and supplier file, and its Movement History: WH/IN/00007 from Bluepeak and WH/OUT/00012 to Riverside.

    Screenshot of package 100000000001, shipped to Riverside, with its Movement History tab outlined.

Notice that one serial number takes you from the supplier's file to the customer's delivery.

What you have done​

  • You saw the demo partners the software treats as authorized trading partners.
  • You set your company's GLN.
  • You bought a case from an authorized supplier and imported its EPCIS file (a Supplier EPCIS File record).
  • You received the case with one scan and completed the receipt with Validate: 24 packages In Stock and the inbound document DSCSA/IN/2026/00001.
  • You sold and shipped two bottles with their serials: the outbound document DSCSA/OUT/2026/00001, with its T3 PDF and EPCIS file.
  • You traced a bottle from supplier to customer in the package ledger.

If something looks different​

  • Your purchase order isn't P00012, and the supplier file has a Warnings tab with "The file's purchase order number (P00012) is not ours (…).": the database already had purchase orders. Start again on a new demo database (see Sample files).
  • The supplier file has a Warnings tab with "My Company (San Francisco) has no GLN in Odoo, so the buyer in the file (GLN 0614141005000) could not be checked. Record the GLN so later files are checked.": stage 2 was skipped or not saved. The warning doesn't stop the receipt: do stage 2 now, then go to Inventory ‣ Operations ‣ Receipts, open WH/IN/00007 and continue with stage 5, step 2. See Read the warnings of an imported supplier EPCIS file.
  • Validate says "… can't be validated: scan one DSCSA serial for each unit being validated.": a bottle wasn't scanned. Select Scan Serials and scan it. See Error: "… can't be validated: scan one DSCSA serial for each unit being validated".
  • Confirming the sales order is refused with "… has no valid state license: license … expired on …": the demo licenses are dated from the day the demo data was loaded and expire after 10 to 24 months. Use a new demo database. See Error: "… has no valid state license: license … expired on …".
  • The Packages list says "No serialized packages yet" for 100000000001: the In Stock filter is still on (step 9.2).

Where to go next​