The connection process takes about 10 minutes and requires your ShipStation API keys

Connecting Rocktomic to ShipStation lets you pull order data directly into Rocktomic without manually entering shipment details. The connection works through ShipStation's API, which is a secure way for two programs to talk to each other. You'll need a ShipStation account with API access enabled, your ShipStation API key and API secret, and admin access to your Rocktomic account.

The steps are straightforward: generate your API credentials in ShipStation, enter them into Rocktomic's integration settings, and test the connection. Once live, Rocktomic will sync your ShipStation orders automatically.

Key Takeaways

  • You need a ShipStation account with API access turned on before you start — this is a setting you enable in ShipStation, not something you request.
  • Your API key and API secret are long strings of characters that you copy from ShipStation and paste into Rocktomic's settings — treat them like passwords and never share them.
  • The connection syncs orders from ShipStation into Rocktomic automatically once it's active, so you don't have to move data between the two programs by hand.
  • Testing the connection in Rocktomic before you rely on it will catch any mistakes in your API credentials or account permissions.

Finding and generating your ShipStation API credentials

Log into your ShipStation account and go to Settings, then API. If you don't see an API section, your account may not have API access enabled — contact ShipStation support to turn it on. Once you're in the API settings page, you'll see two long strings: your API key and your API secret. Copy both of these exactly as they appear, including all capital and lowercase letters. Paste them into a text file or document you can reference while setting up Rocktomic.

ShipStation generates these credentials once per account, so you won't need to create new ones unless you reset them. If you reset them, any program connected to your ShipStation account using the old credentials will stop working, so only reset if you're removing a connection or suspect your credentials have been compromised.

Entering your credentials into Rocktomic

In Rocktomic, navigate to Settings or Integrations (the exact menu name depends on your Rocktomic version). Look for ShipStation in the list of available integrations and click to open it. You'll see two fields: one for your API key and one for your API secret. Paste your ShipStation API key into the first field and your API secret into the second field. Make sure there are no extra spaces before or after the text — even a single space will break the connection.

After you've entered both credentials, Rocktomic will usually show a button to test the connection. Click it. If the test succeeds, you'll see a confirmation message and the connection is live. If it fails, double-check that you copied the credentials exactly, including all uppercase and lowercase letters, and that your ShipStation account has API access enabled.

What happens after the connection is live

Once the connection is active, Rocktomic will begin pulling orders from ShipStation on a regular schedule — usually every few minutes to every hour, depending on your Rocktomic plan. You'll see ShipStation orders appear in Rocktomic's order list with their tracking numbers, carrier information, and shipping status. You don't need to do anything else; the sync happens automatically in the background.

If you add a new order in ShipStation, it will show up in Rocktomic within the next sync cycle. If you update an order's status in ShipStation (for example, marking it as shipped), that update will also sync to Rocktomic. The data flows from ShipStation to Rocktomic, so changes you make in Rocktomic won't update ShipStation.

Troubleshooting a failed connection

If your connection test fails, the most common cause is a typo in your API credentials. Go back to ShipStation, copy your API key and secret again, and paste them into Rocktomic a second time. Pay special attention to the first and last characters — it's easy to miss a character at the beginning or end.

The second most common issue is that API access isn't actually enabled on your ShipStation account. Log into ShipStation, go to Settings, and look for an API section. If you don't see it, your account doesn't have API access yet. Contact ShipStation support and ask them to enable API access on your account. Once they do, generate new credentials and try the connection again in Rocktomic.

If you've checked both of those and the connection still fails, verify that you're using an admin account in Rocktomic — some user roles don't have permission to change integration settings. If you're not an admin, ask someone with admin access to set up the connection for you.

Disconnecting or resetting the connection

If you need to disconnect Rocktomic from ShipStation, go back to the ShipStation integration settings in Rocktomic and look for a disconnect or remove button. Clicking it will stop the sync immediately — Rocktomic will no longer pull new orders from ShipStation. Your ShipStation account and data are not affected; you're only removing the connection between the two programs.

If you want to reconnect later, you can use the same API credentials again — you don't need to generate new ones unless you reset them in ShipStation. If you do reset your credentials in ShipStation, you'll need to update them in Rocktomic as well, or the connection will fail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a paid ShipStation plan to use the API?

ShipStation's API is available on most paid plans, but not on the free tier. Check your ShipStation plan details or contact their support to confirm your plan includes API access. If it doesn't, you'll need to upgrade to a plan that includes it.

What if I have multiple ShipStation accounts?

You can only connect one ShipStation account to each Rocktomic account. If you need to sync orders from multiple ShipStation accounts, you'll need separate Rocktomic accounts for each one, or contact Rocktomic support to discuss other options.

Will connecting Rocktomic to ShipStation affect my existing ShipStation workflows?

No. The connection only pulls data from ShipStation into Rocktomic; it doesn't change how ShipStation works or interfere with any automations or rules you've set up in ShipStation. You can use both programs side by side without any conflicts.

How often does Rocktomic sync with ShipStation?

The sync frequency depends on your Rocktomic plan. Most plans sync every few minutes to every hour. Check your Rocktomic plan details or contact support if you need to know the exact frequency for your account.

Can I sync data from Rocktomic back to ShipStation?

No. The connection is one-way: data flows from ShipStation to Rocktomic only. Changes you make in Rocktomic won't update ShipStation. If you need to update ShipStation data, you'll do that directly in ShipStation.