WD: How to Add a Postal Bar Code to Labels or Documents

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 98

SUMMARY

This article describes a method you can use to add Postal Numeric Encoding Technique (POSTNET) bar codes to mailing labels using the Envelopes And Labels command on the Tools menu. The Envelopes And Labels command does not include a feature that adds Facing Identification Mark (FIM) bar codes to your labels. You must do this by inserting a BARCODE field in your address.

When you print labels using the mail merge helper, you can add a postal bar code by clicking the Insert Postal Bar Code button in the Create Labels dialog box. However, the Insert Postal Bar Code feature is not part of the Envelopes And Labels command.

NOTE: The Delivery Point Bar Code option, in the Envelopes And Labels dialog box, is available only if your label is at least 3.1 inches wide and United States is the International Country setting in Windows. However, you can always create this type of bar code by inserting a BARCODE field, regardless of the label width and International Country settings. Not that if you insert a BARCODE field manually because the Delivery Point Bar Code option is unavailable, the bar code may not fit on the label.

MORE INFORMATION

Use the following procedure to add bar codes to the labels you create using the Envelopes And Labels command:

1. Open a new document.

2. On the Tools menu, click Envelopes and Labels, and then click the Labels tab.

3. In the Address box, press CTRL+F9 to enter field braces into the box and type one of the following BARCODE fields into the dialog box:

         Syntax                             Example
         ------------------------------------------------------------
   
         {BARCODE \u "Literal Text"}        {BARCODE \u "99999-0000"}
   
          -or-
   
         {BARCODE <BookmarkName> \b \u}     {BARCODE MyZIPCode \b \u}
   
      NOTE: <BookmarkName> is a bookmark name that defines either the entire
      mailing address or only the nine-digit ZIP code. Note also that when you
      use a bookmark name to define the text to use for the bar code, the
      bookmark name MUST appear before the \u switch as in this example:
   
         {BARCODE <BookmarkName> \b \u \* MERGEFORMAT}
   
          -or-
   
         {BARCODE \b <BookmarkName> \u \* MERGEFORMAT}
   
      If you use a format other that the ones used in this example, you will
      receive the "No Zip Code!" error.
   
   

4. Press END to move your cursor outside of the field braces and then enter any other information into the Address box.

5. Click either Print or New Document.

For additional information about using Barcodes for a mail merge, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q107789
   TITLE     : Mail Merge Attached Envelope Does Not Create Bar Code

   ARTICLE-ID: Q144608
   TITLE     : Error Message In Place of BARCODE Field

   ARTICLE-ID: Q155187
   TITLE     : WD: How to Read Postal Barcodes

   ARTICLE-ID: Q144608
   TITLE     : WD: Error Message In Place of BARCODE Field

   ARTICLE-ID: Q105576
   TITLE     : WD: Position of Bar Codes Is Certified by U.S. Postal
               Service

   ARTICLE-ID: Q164032
   TITLE     : WD: Delivery Point Barcode Option Is Unavailable