Microsoft KB Archive/275343

= WD2001: How to Include POSTNET and FIM-A Bar Codes in Data Merge to Envelopes =

Article ID: 275343

Article Last Modified on 1/29/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Word 2001 for Mac

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This article was previously published under Q275343



SUMMARY
If you are mailing envelopes to U.S. addresses, you can include machine-readable codes on envelopes. These codes can be read by the U.S. Postal Service's automated mail-handling equipment, which can ensure faster mail processing. You can print two types of codes: POSTNET (Postal Numeric Encoding Technique) bar codes and FIM-A (Facing Identification Mark) codes. The POSTNET bar code contains U.S. ZIP Code information from the delivery address. The FIM-A code identifies the address side of a courtesy reply envelope; this helps the mail-handling equipment locate the envelope's POSTNET bar code and postage.

This article describes how to include both types of codes on envelopes in a data merge operation.



POSTNET Bar Codes
To include POSTNET bar codes above the mailing address on envelopes in a data merge operation, follow these steps:
 * 1) Start Microsoft Word 2001 for Mac and open a new blank document.
 * 2) On the Tools menu, click Data Merge Manager.
 * 3) Under Main Document, click Create, and then click Envelopes.
 * 4) Under Printing Options, select the option that applies to your printer.
 * 5) Click Page Setup. If you have a custom envelope size, click Custom. Choose the settings that you want, and then click OK.
 * 6) In the Data Merge Manager, click Get Data under Data Source, and then click Open Data Source.
 * 7) Select a Word document, or a worksheet, database, or other list, and then click Open.
 * 8) Insert merge fields where you want to merge data from the data source. To insert a merge field, under Merge Field, drag the field names that you want into the main document. An insertion point appears to indicate the location.
 * 9) In the Data Merge Manager, click Postal Code under Data Source.
 * 10) Under Merge field with ZIP code, select the field used for the ZIP code.


 * 1) Under Merge field with street address, select the field used for the street address.
 * 2) Click OK.

Notice that the POSTNET bar code is located in the merge document immediately above the mailing address.
 * 1) Complete the merge operation by setting Query Options, and then clicking either Merge to Printer or Merge to New Document.

FIM-A Codes
To include FIM-A codes on envelopes in a data merge, follow these steps:
 * 1) Follow the steps 1 through 11 for including POSTNET bar codes.
 * 2) In the Insert Postal Bar Code dialog box, click FIM-A courtesy reply mail, and then click OK.

Notice that the POSTNET bar code is located in the merge document immediately above the mailing address, and the FIM-A code is located near the upper right corner, beside the place for the stamp.

