Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
|
|||
|
|||
Real Simple: Zip Barcodes just dont work
I have searched help system, the "knowledge" base, this Group.
I have a standard, off-the-shelf HP Desktop with pre-installed OFFFICE-2003 (Basic Edition Office). I have vanilla XP 2002 (SP2) (pre installed) I can get zipcode delivery Point barcode work fine when I print one envelope. (TOOLS/LETTERS/ENVELOPES etc. But with Mail Merge - I have found it IMPOSSIBLE. - I select a list of CONTACTS from OUTLOOK., - I select Mail Merge (WORD) - I insert Address Block into my Envelope "template" - The option to include Delivery Point Barcode is grayed out - not available. ---------------------- Yes. my locale is set to USA English (default... I checked but did not change anything) I tried about a dozen variants of inserting the barcode field from the Posts on this Group Closest thing I got is "ZIP Code is Invalid" - but that is using techie stuff that no normal user would ever try. Is there some way to use Delivery Point Barcodes on the world's simplest mail-merge to Envelopes or Labels. Why doesn't the d___ menu work ! ? T H A N K S for any help. curt |
#2
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
|
|||
|
|||
Real Simple: Zip Barcodes just dont work
You've probably seen this stuff already it's in messages in this group,
but... 1. If you didn't read the following article already you should read it before using USPS barcodes: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897290/en-us If that does not put you off using them... In my experience, the DP Barcode option is now always disabled in the Mailmerge envelope setup dialog in Word 2003, as you have noticed. Yes, ensure that your locale is set to U.S. English in Regional options, otherwise the barcode field will not work whatever you do. (If you are in the U.S. this would typically be the default setting). US POSTNET barcodes are constructed from two pieces of information which you will need in your data source: a. a number in a street address b. a 9-digit ZIP code The BARCODE field requires that the 9-digit ZIP is in 5-4 format (with the hyphen). In your label you typically need a BARCODE field that looks like: { BARCODE "{ MERGEFIELD "street address" }¶ { MERGEFIELD Postcodefield }" \u } The ¶ is just a normal paragraph mark that you will see if you press Enter after { MERGEFIELD "street address" } and click the ¶ symbol in Word's toolbar). All the {} must be the special field code braces you can enter using ctrl-F9. The "street addrss" merge field should just contain the street address, not the whole address with city, state, zip. Trying to use an ADDRESSBLOCK instead of this mergefield almost certainly will not work. if you're merging from Outlook Contacts, there should be a field with just this data (but find and use the correct name). The Postcodefield should just contain the ZIP code, nothing else. Find and use the correct field name. I just tried it again here to make sure it still works, and it does. Peter Jamieson "curt" wrote in message ps.com... I have searched help system, the "knowledge" base, this Group. I have a standard, off-the-shelf HP Desktop with pre-installed OFFFICE-2003 (Basic Edition Office). I have vanilla XP 2002 (SP2) (pre installed) I can get zipcode delivery Point barcode work fine when I print one envelope. (TOOLS/LETTERS/ENVELOPES etc. But with Mail Merge - I have found it IMPOSSIBLE. - I select a list of CONTACTS from OUTLOOK., - I select Mail Merge (WORD) - I insert Address Block into my Envelope "template" - The option to include Delivery Point Barcode is grayed out - not available. ---------------------- Yes. my locale is set to USA English (default... I checked but did not change anything) I tried about a dozen variants of inserting the barcode field from the Posts on this Group Closest thing I got is "ZIP Code is Invalid" - but that is using techie stuff that no normal user would ever try. Is there some way to use Delivery Point Barcodes on the world's simplest mail-merge to Envelopes or Labels. Why doesn't the d___ menu work ! ? T H A N K S for any help. curt |
#3
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
|
|||
|
|||
Real Simple: Zip Barcodes just dont work
One other thing when merging to labels. If the label is not big enough to
contain the barcode, Word will not even try. -- Hope this helps. Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my services on a paid consulting basis. Doug Robbins - Word MVP "curt" wrote in message ps.com... I have searched help system, the "knowledge" base, this Group. I have a standard, off-the-shelf HP Desktop with pre-installed OFFFICE-2003 (Basic Edition Office). I have vanilla XP 2002 (SP2) (pre installed) I can get zipcode delivery Point barcode work fine when I print one envelope. (TOOLS/LETTERS/ENVELOPES etc. But with Mail Merge - I have found it IMPOSSIBLE. - I select a list of CONTACTS from OUTLOOK., - I select Mail Merge (WORD) - I insert Address Block into my Envelope "template" - The option to include Delivery Point Barcode is grayed out - not available. ---------------------- Yes. my locale is set to USA English (default... I checked but did not change anything) I tried about a dozen variants of inserting the barcode field from the Posts on this Group Closest thing I got is "ZIP Code is Invalid" - but that is using techie stuff that no normal user would ever try. Is there some way to use Delivery Point Barcodes on the world's simplest mail-merge to Envelopes or Labels. Why doesn't the d___ menu work ! ? T H A N K S for any help. curt |
#4
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
|
|||
|
|||
Real Simple: Zip Barcodes just dont work
Peter,
I am grateful for your help on this. But, I tried (and tried and tried) the suggested solution. Just does not work. Best result I could get was a consistent "Zip Code is Invalid" --------------- But I stumbled on to this "solution" 1- I inserted an ADDRESS BLOCK merge field into my Envelope document. (from Outlook Contacts) 2- I marked that Address Block and inserted a BOOKMARK, with a name. 3- I added a BARCODE field (using WORD's Insert/Field) like this: BARCODE Addr \b where Addr is the name I gave the bookmark. 4- I tried the MERGE TO DOCUMENT. Does not work - every envelope instance comes up with "Zip Code is Invalid" 5-BUT... I tried MERGE TO PRINTER with exactly the same document -- that works ! ! ! ! ! ! (Yes thats right- merge to document fails, merge to printer works) None of this makes sense of course... yet another symptom of Microsoft buggy software. But it works ! It does 5 and 5+4 digit zip codes ---------------- I read through the USPS documents in your link. They say that Bulk Discounts are available for "Delivery Point barcodes OR Zip+4 barcodes". The method above does Zip+4 Even without bulk discounts, It seems to me that including the ZIP+4 barcode reduces the chance of processing errors in the Post Office. |
#5
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
|
|||
|
|||
Real Simple: Zip Barcodes just dont work
Yes, pretty weird.
Even without bulk discounts, It seems to me that including the ZIP+4 barcode reduces the chance of processing errors in the Post Office. I wondered about that, but without knowing the details of how the USPS actually delivers mail, it's difficult to tell. For example, suppose as a result of an incorrect barcoding your letter ends up being handled automatically all the way to the destination because (for example) that destination is a large organisation that receives a lot of mail. If that could happen, would your mail ever be redirected properly? Peter Jamieson "curt" wrote in message ups.com... Peter, I am grateful for your help on this. But, I tried (and tried and tried) the suggested solution. Just does not work. Best result I could get was a consistent "Zip Code is Invalid" --------------- But I stumbled on to this "solution" 1- I inserted an ADDRESS BLOCK merge field into my Envelope document. (from Outlook Contacts) 2- I marked that Address Block and inserted a BOOKMARK, with a name. 3- I added a BARCODE field (using WORD's Insert/Field) like this: BARCODE Addr \b where Addr is the name I gave the bookmark. 4- I tried the MERGE TO DOCUMENT. Does not work - every envelope instance comes up with "Zip Code is Invalid" 5-BUT... I tried MERGE TO PRINTER with exactly the same document -- that works ! ! ! ! ! ! (Yes thats right- merge to document fails, merge to printer works) None of this makes sense of course... yet another symptom of Microsoft buggy software. But it works ! It does 5 and 5+4 digit zip codes ---------------- I read through the USPS documents in your link. They say that Bulk Discounts are available for "Delivery Point barcodes OR Zip+4 barcodes". The method above does Zip+4 Even without bulk discounts, It seems to me that including the ZIP+4 barcode reduces the chance of processing errors in the Post Office. |
#6
Posted to microsoft.public.word.mailmerge.fields
|
|||
|
|||
Real Simple: Zip Barcodes just dont work
Peter Jamieson wrote: I wondered about that, but without knowing the details of how the USPS actually delivers mail, it's difficult to tell. For example, suppose as a result of an incorrect barcoding your letter ends up being handled automatically all the way to the destination because (for example) that destination is a large organisation that receives a lot of mail. If that could happen, would your mail ever be redirected properly? --------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The USPS Documentation seems to say that ZIP+4 barcodes (in addition to "delivery point barcodes") are acceptable. That implies to me that they are used if present. A barcode that I apply has to be correct (if the zip is right). A USPS machine operator reading addresses and manually adding barcodes to envelopes has to be an error-prone process. I have received mail that appears to have gone to the wrong place then finally re-routed back to me -- and the barcode had been blacked-out as though it was wrong. Anyway, I'm glad I found a solution even though its kinda ugly. Thanks for your help -- even though I couldn't use your method, your Posts are what pointed me in a direction that worked. -curt |
Reply |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Make Work work properly on flat panels rotated 90deg | Page Layout | |||
Mail merge does not work!!!! | Mailmerge | |||
word work files | Microsoft Word Help | |||
how do I scan a document into work for editing | Microsoft Word Help | |||
Word Forms: Inclusde small business and standard real estate | Microsoft Word Help |