# Configure packing summaries
URL: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/90200000000514-configure-packing-summaries
Canonical: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/90200000000514-configure-packing-summaries
Markdown: https://support.starshipit.com/articles/90200000000514-configure-packing-summaries.md
Updated: 2026-10-19

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.starshipit.com/llms.txt).

> Choose and customise the packing summary used for bulk picking and packing workflows.

Configure the PDF packing summary your team uses to pick or pack multiple orders at once.

## Before you begin

- Make sure you can edit packing-slip settings in the account your team uses.
- Keep a copy of your existing custom template before changing it.
- Use a custom order summary for order notes, delivery instructions, dates or tags. These fields belong to each order, rather than an item summary that combines items across orders.

## Choose a packing summary

<!-- tabs:start -->

<!-- tab:Classic UI -->
Go to **Settings > Packing Slip > Configure your Packing Summary here**.

<!-- tab:UI 2.0 -->
Go to **Settings > [Packing slips](https://next.starshipit.com/settings/packing-slip)**, then open **Packing summaries**.

<!-- tabs:end -->

Choose the format that matches your workflow:

- **Items Summary** lists items across the selected orders and is intended for picking.
- **Order Summary** groups the selected orders on one document for picking and packing.
- **Order Summary with Item Barcodes** adds item barcodes for scan-based packing.
- **Custom item summary**, or **Customise your own item summary**, uses the template editor for an item-based workflow.
- **Custom order summary**, or **Customise your own order summary**, uses the template editor for an order-based workflow.

Use the available sample or preview download to compare formats before saving one.

## Customise the summary

In the template editor, you can:

- Change wording directly in the template.
- Remove columns your team does not need.
- Add fields using variables from the editor.
- Use `%OrderRepeaterStart%` and `%OrderRepeaterEnd%` around order-level content.
- Use `%ItemRepeaterStart%` and `%ItemRepeaterEnd%` around item-level content.

Save the template when the document is ready. UI 2.0 uses **Save**; Classic UI uses **Save template**.

## Add information for each order

In a custom order summary, place these variables between `%OrderRepeaterStart%` and `%OrderRepeaterEnd%` so they repeat for every order:

| Variable | Displays |
| --- | --- |
| `%OrderNotes%` | Order notes |
| `%DeliveryInstructions%` | The order's delivery instructions, separately from its order notes |
| `%OrderDate%` | The order date |
| `%Tags%` | Order tags |

If an order has no delivery instructions or tags, the corresponding variable is left blank in the generated summary. Keep each order's variables inside its order repeater, including when the template also contains an item repeater.

## Verify the configuration

1. Reopen the saved template and confirm the variables remain in the intended repeater sections.
2. Download a preview to check the layout, barcodes and columns.
3. Generate a packing summary for a small selection of real orders. Include orders with different delivery instructions and, if available, one with no instructions.
4. Check that each order shows its own instructions and notes. An order without instructions should have a blank field, with no literal `%DeliveryInstructions%` text or instructions copied from another order.

If the field is missing, confirm you selected a custom **order** summary and placed the exact variable inside `%OrderRepeaterStart%` and `%OrderRepeaterEnd%`. Save the corrected template and generate the summary again.

To generate the document for live orders, see [Print packing summaries](/articles/360001972155-print-packing-summaries).