yomajo / parse-post-codes

Parsing and loading (on/off) postal codes used for barcode generation provided in txt file from within Excel environment

Parse Post Codes

Description & Usage

This a part of a large VBA Project I was working on, that generates Invoices and Export Declarations from exported Ebay CSV Files. Each Export Declaration uses barcode, that is a special font used on postal code. Postal Codes are provided by Post Office in txt format.

Example of first 4 codes in text file:

"UA759883946LTUA745082482LTUA860409989LTUA432531574LT"

Postal code structure: 'UA' + 9 dec symbols + 'LT'

Usage

Main Program.xlsm works as GUI. Screenshot from "Main" sheet in Main Program.xlsm:

1. On workbook open, command prompt is instantiated and where python is executed, capturing output to hidden sheet "PyPath" in A1 cell.
2. Reset button simply cleans contents from Main worksheet
3. Use New Code Postal_Codes_Manager.xlsx, copies first free code and moves it to "Expired Codes" sheet
4. Add New Postal Codes launches txt_to_excel.py, which converts txt file contents to list and starts appending it from first free row in A column, "Free Codes" sheet, Postal_Codes_Manager.xlsx workbook

Python to parse codes and load to workbook

Script splits txt continuous content to list each 13 symbols (fixed) and via openpyxl lib. pushes new codes in Postal_Codes_Manager.xlsx

Python to generate postal codes

Not to bother Post Office when still in development, I postal codes were still needed to work with, so output_entropy.py was written to generate identical file of post codes. It generates txt file with codes_count (Global variable inside script) number of postal codes.

Example file.

VBA Modules

All VBA part modules have been exported for inspection and are in VBA Modules

Requirements

• Python 3.7.3+
• openpyxl (pip install openpyxl)
• Python added to PATH
• In order to use barcode, add provided font to C:\Windows\Fonts.

Tested only on Windows machine

Installation

Simply download both workbooks and python files and proceed with Main Program.xlsm as GUI.

parse-post-codes's Issues

Prevent VBA 'Add Postal Codes' script to run if Python Path failed to establish

Verify Post Codes before being added

Currently, VBA does not get feedback from VBA about adding codes txt_to_excel.py sub-program succession.

capturing command prompt output (print statements) is one way to achieve this

Add code format validation before adding to Postal_Codes_Manager.xlsx

Currently only length of post codes are checked (when splitting). Add more validation to prevent user from parsing any txt file.