Hi Rich, Actually, the USPS recognizes two different kinds of barcodes. One is the "Postnet Barcodes" that have been around for some time. The other is the "Intelligent Mail Barcodes" that are a more recent development.
According to the latest Domestic Mail Manual (updated 10-3-2011), postnet barcodes are still very much permissible. As we know, the USPS is pretty good about taking just about any kind of addressing on an envelope and getting it where it goes. That means that your arthritic old grandmother can scratch your name and address on an envelope in barely legible handwriting and you stand a pretty good chance of receiving it. And all for just $0.44 (going up to $0.45 soon). So any kind of barcoding (5-digit, ZIP+4, or 11-digit) is going help. However, in order to get the "automation price" or "Enhanced Carrier Route price" (reduced postal rates for commercial mailings), the address positioning and barcodes have to conform to some very specific requirements. It's noteworthy that postnet barcodes can still qualify a mailpiece for the reduced pricing as long as the 11-digit delivery point barcode (DPBC) is used and placed in the proper location on the mailpiece. The 11 digit DPBC consists of the ZIP+4 (9 digit) barcode, with the addition of two additional digits obtained from throm a CASS-certified delivery point code address matching process. If you plug your address into the USPS ZIP code lookup tool (https://tools.usps.com/go/ZipLookupAction!input.action?mode=0&refresh=true), it will give you the 9-digit ZIP+4 as well as the Delivery Point Code. Put 'em together and you get the 11-digit DPBC. DPSpool knows how to properly generate 5-digit, 9-digit, and 11-digit (DPBC) postnet barcodes. I don't recall exactly whether DPPrint could do all three types or not, but I bet it can. And I'm sure WordPerfect is still up to the task as well. And I've just double-checked to confirm that DPSpool's postnet barcodes conform to USPS tech spec 708.4.2.5 (which has not changed). These specs define the size and spacing of the bars that make up the barcode. So we're just fine. Bottom line: There is a new type of barcode, but the old type is still perfectly acceptable too. Your barcodes were not likely DPBC 11-digit and probably interefered with the barcodes Presort Plus used to get the university the cheap rate, thus your chastisement. But when you send out personal mail from home, you can postnet barcode to your heart's delight. :) BTW, if anybody ever cares to see the actual specs, you can download the USPS manuals here: http://pe.usps.com/DMMdownload.asp Tim Rude "Rich Bragonje" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]... Hi Tim, In May of 2011, the USPS required an updated version of the postal barcodes. So I am guessing that at least DPPrint will no longer print correct barcodes. I don't know about DPSpool, but would guess it uses the same barcodes. This will also be a problem in WordPerfect, until or unless they include the new barcodes in an update. When I was printing envelopes or labels in WP, I used to print the barcodes. At some point I was chastised severely, and told in no uncertain terms that I had to stop that. Turns out that all the mail from the University is processed by a local company, Presort Plus, which sorts all mailings according to USPS delivery standards, and in that process prints the appropriate barcodes on each piece. With my pre-printed barcodes, there was a severe conflict, so I don't do that any more. No longer severely chastised (at least for that). :) I attempted to find out the specifics of the new barcode specs, but found very little info. Rich PS: I like #4 At 10:08 AM 11/2/2011, you wrote: If you're talking about a Postnet (US Postal Service) barcode, both DPPrint and DPSpool can print a zip code as a bar code using the ;;P field modifier. If you're talking about other bar codes, you will likely have to find a bar code font and then select it using the DPSpool font codes. Tim Rude ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Dataperf mailing list [email protected] http://lists.dataperfect.nl/mailman/listinfo/dataperf
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