Re:Barcode Zip Codes

[Buck Calabro <mcalabro@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Neely,

On 6/1/97 at 8.40am, Neely Loring wrote:
>
>We produce Declarations each night in our cycle that must be mailed to our 
>customers.  We would like to consider adding the barcode zip code to these 
>decs.  We have existing DDSs that produce the decs.  What is involved to add 
>the barcode line below the zip code?

The actual DDS for the postnet barcode is the simple part:
A            ZIP5           5   O    49               
A                                    54'-'            
A            ZIP4           4   O    55               
A            BARZIP        11S 0O    28               
A                                      BARCODE(POSTNET)

The problem is that the postnet barcode is not simply built over the ZIP+4.  
There is an additional field called the Delivery Point.  (There's one more that 
the USPS requires; it's a check digit.  DDS will generate the check digit for 
you.)  The problem with the delivery point is that you probably don't have it 
in your database.  In order to get the postal discounts you want, you'll need 
to get software that meets USPS CASS certification requirements.  This CASS 
software will match your addresses against the national database, correct 
address errors (if possible), add the proper ZIP+4, delivery point and check 
digit.  Generally, this software runs on a PC, but there are AS/400 products 
available.  A typical procedure is to download your customer master file to the 
PC, import it into the CASS software, upload the corrected data to the /400 and 
update your database.  You'll need some means of flagging addresses on the /400 
that fail the address match, because you can't barcode them if they're not CASS 
certified.  Once you have the database in shape, you can print the proper 
barcodes on your mailpieces.

I would strongly suggest that you call the local USPS Mail Acceptance 
Specialist and have a chat with them.  I'd also suggest getting a copy of USPS 
pub 25, Designing Letter Mail and a copy of "Max-It!", the USPS book on 
classification reform.  The USPS has a web page, http://www.usps.gov.  Be aware 
that in addition to the postnet barcode, there are requirements for the way the 
mail is to be sorted and placed in trays, and also for several reports that go 
to the USPS.

HTH

Buck Calabro
Commsoft
mcalabro@commsoft.net
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