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USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode Font Advantage Package
Demo Version Notices:
INDEX:
Package Features |
This font package allows generation of all barcodes used by the USPS in a variety of operating systems, environments and applications. All barcode fonts require special formatting so that the data will create a readable barcode when the font is applied. Over 30 royalty-free font encoder tools, macros and plug-ins are provided to complete this automatically.
The Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) is a tracing, routing, sorting and tracking symbology type based on the 4-State Barcode that is used for services including OneCode Confirm & OneCode ACS. This postal barcode is also referred to as the OneCode Solution, 4-State Customer Barcode, USPS4CB and 4-CB. Details of the package are as follows:
Installation Instructions |
Several implementation examples are provided with the Windows installation executable included in the package. If problems are encountered with implementation, the examples may provide insight. Additionally, many of IDAutomation's Font Tools include tutorials.
To install the package in Windows, run the setup utility. This utility will install the most commonly used fonts. The following describes how to manually install a font in Windows:
To install the TrueType font on the Classic Macintosh (OS 7.1 - OS 9):
PCL Fonts:
To obtain information about installing PCL fonts, refer to the
PCLinfo.html document provided in the PCL folder of the package.
Implementation of USPS Symbologies |
Several postal barcode implementation examples are provided with the Windows installation executable file included in the package. These examples may be helpful to assist with initial set up. Additionally, many of IDAutomation's Font Tools that are royalty free include tutorials for the postal barcodes.
Obtaining Data to Encode
The first step in creating any USPS barcode is to obtain the data that is to be encoded. The links below will provide the information necessary to create a string of text that may be encoded in a function.
Formatting Data to Fonts
After the data is in the proper format for the function, the text is passed to the function and the result is a text string that the font is then applied to, to produce a proper barcode symbol. The functions are available in many font encoders to automatically format data to the font. When a font encoder cannot be used, it is recommended to access a database that contains the text string already formatted for the font. The Word mail-merge example included in this package works in this manner; a merge field in Word is linked to a column in Excel that contains the text string formatted for the font.
Postal Barcode Printing and Font Size
After the data is formatted to the USPS font and the appropriate font has been selected, it will display and print properly. The font size of 12 points should be used when printing all Intelligent Mail, Postnet and Planet barcodes. FIM symbols should be printed with a font size of 36 points. The Code 128 font used for GS1-128 should be printed at 16 points for USPS Special Services. More information about the sizing of fonts is provided in the Font Specifications.
IDAutomation suggests printing USPS fonts at the recommended point sizes specified in this section. When TrueType, PostScript or OpenType fonts are used, the size may be further adjusted by changing the font point size. For example, to print the 12-point Postnet barcode font slightly wider, increase the font size to 12.1 points.
Parameter |
Approximate Font Dimensions at 12 Points |
USPS Specification Tolerances |
X Dimension (width of bars) | .017" | .015" - .025" |
Width of space between bars | .026" | .012" - .040" |
Full vertical size of Intelligent Mail | .135" | .125" - .165" |
Vertical size of Intelligent Mail tracker | .041" | .039" - .057" |
Height of Postnet short bar | .051" | .040" - .060" |
Height of Postnet tall bar | .126" | .115" - .135" |
Number of bars per inch | 23 | 22 - 24 |
Font Name |
Point Size |
CPI |
ANSI Size |
IDAutomationOCRa | 9 | 10 | 1 |
Parameter |
Approximate Font Dimensions at 16 pt |
USPS Dimension Standards |
X Dimension | .0135" | .013" - .020" |
Height of bars | .75" | .75" - .80" |
Parameter |
Approximate Font Dimensions at 21 Pt |
|
X Dimension | .017" | |
Height of bars | 1" |
Implementation |
Font Name |
Font Encoder Function |
IMB Barcode | IDAutomationIMB IDAutomationIMBn1 * IDAutomationIMBn2 |
IntelligentMail(), OneCode() or IDAutomation_Uni_OneCode() ** |
Postnet Barcode | IDAutomationPOSTNET IDAutomationPOSTNETn1 * IDAutomationPOSTNETn2 |
Postnet() |
Planet Barcode | IDAutomationPLANET IDAutomationPLANETn1 * IDAutomationPLANETn2 |
Postnet() |
OCR-A Text | IDAutomationOCRa | na |
Code 128 Barcode | IDAutomationC128L | Code128() |
FIM Barcode | IDAutomationFIM | na |
* Fonts ending with N1 or N2 signify different narrow intensities:
** Intelligent Mail barcode fonts are currently supported by Feature Level 7 or greater font encoder tools such as the Crystal Reports UFL, Microsoft VBA for Excel and Access and the Windows DLL. All OneCode() and IntelligentMail() encoding methods are identical and may be used interchangeably.
Intelligent Mail barcodes may be produced from IDAutomation's fonts and font encoder tools, as well as other encoders, such as the encoders provided by the US Postal Service. To accommodate both types of encoding, each 4-State symbol element is placed at two character locations within the Postnet font according to the following table:
4CB Symbol Element |
Character Locations |
Ascender | A, q |
Descender | D, r |
Full Bar | F, p |
Tracker | T, s |
The USPS uses uppercase letters for encoding while IDAutomation font encoders use lower case letters. The lower case letters used provide complete compatibility with the IDAutomation Universal Barcode Font, which allows generation of Intelligent Mail, Postnet and Planet, as well as Code 128, Code 39 and Interleaved 2 of 5 barcode symbols from a single font.
Other Barcode Software Products |
IDAutomation offers many other similar products including:
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