Top Navigational Bar

POSTNET Barcodes And The 11-Digit Delivery Po
DocumentID: 604056
Revision Date: 29-Feb-96 1:30:29 PM

The information in this document applies to:
WordPerfect® 5.1 for DOS

Problem

Solutions: The POSTNET (POSTal Numeric Encoding Technique) barcode was developed by the Postal Service to encode zip code information on letter mail which can be read rapidly and reliably by relatively inexpensive barcode sorters. The main purpose of the POSTNET barcode is to allow a discount on bulk mailings. Postal customers who wish to receive the discount by using the POSTNET barcode on letters must mail at least 250 pieces at a time and must contact their local Post Office for more information.

Another reason people try to use the POSTNET barcode is to improve the delivery time of their letters. Actually, having a POSTNET barcode on a single piece of mail may or may not speed its delivery. Depending on the time of day the piece of mail is processed at the originating Post Office, and whether or not it must be read by the character reader machine, that piece of mail may or may not make the "next truck" on its journey and possibly be delayed a day. Unless Postal customers have a special bulk mailing agreement with their local Post Office, the speed with which a piece of mail is delivered is not guaranteed to be improved even if they use a POSTNET barcode.

Starting March 21, 1993, in order to receive the bulk mailing discount, people will be required to use a new type of POSTNET barcode called the Delivery Point Barcode (DPBC). This barcode is generated from the 9-digit zip code (ZIP + 4) plus adds the last two characters from the street address to make a barcode that is 11 digits long. There are many exceptions to this rule since not all addresses have normal street numbers. The Post Office has a list of these exceptions. The final number in the DPBC is the correction digit, as it is in both the 5- and 9-digit barcodes. The correction digit is added to the end of the 11-digit DPBC which makes the sum of all 12 digits equal to a multiple of 10. The correction digit is used by the barcode sorter to verify the barcode.

Here is an example of how to figure out the Delivery Point Barcode (DPBC) values for a typical letter:

MARK POLLAN
101 MAIN ST
ANYTOWN US 12345-6789

The first nine digits of the DPBC are 123456789. The next two digits are 01 taken from the last two letters of the street address. The correction digit is found by adding the numbers 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+0+1 = 46 and then adding 4 to make the total equal to a multiple of 10, which in this case is 50. The numbers used to create the barcode for this example are: 123456789014. As in most software that creates barcodes, the POSTNET.WPM macro in WP 5.1 for DOS and the BARCODE.WCM and ENVELOPE.WCM macros in WP 5.2 for Windows automatically calculates the correction digit for 5-digit and 9-digit barcodes.

The capability to use the new 11-digit DPBC is not yet available in WP 5.1 for DOS using the POSTNET.WPM macro. The BARCODE.WCM in WPWin 5.2 accepts 11 digits but is tedious to use for people wishing to do bulk mailings. The ENVELOPE.WCM in WPWin 5.2 accepts 11 digits, but since the zip code is never 11 digits long, customers will probably not be satisfied with the way this macro is implemented either. If customers call requesting the ability to create Delivery Point Barcodes (originally called the advanced barcode), please enter an enhancement request.

Answer:
Status:      Enhance
***|enhance|***
Press Enter on link token to view statement.

Answer:

Details:


Product specifications, packaging, technical support and information (*Specifications*) refer to theUnited States retail English version only. Specifications for other versions may vary. All Specifications, claims, features, representations, and/or comparisons provided are correct to the best of our knowledge of the date of publication, but are subject to change without notice.OUR MAXIMUM AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU AND THAT OF OUR DEALERS AND SUPPLIERS IS LIMITED. IT SHALL NOTEXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO ACCESS THE INFORMATION. SEE LEGAL DISCLAIMER.