Generating Intelligent Mail®
Barcodes
March 2008
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Getting Started
STEP 1: Talk with mail service providers and vendors
STEP 2: Apply for Mailer ID (MID)
STEP 3: Download software used to translate your intelligent data into the Intelligent Mail barcode
STEP 4: Populate barcode fields
STEP 5: Generate correct barcodes
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Step 1 of 5
Talk with mail service providers and vendors
● Determine whether you would like to implement Intelligent Mail yourself or through a provider/vendor.
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Step 2 of 5
Apply for Mailer ID● Contact your local Mailpiece Design
Analyst (MDA): Online tool at pe.usps.com
Click “Mailpiece Design”
Click “Lookup Tool” under heading “Mailpiece Design Analyst”
Survey will be completed and 6 or 9-digit MID assigned based on mail volume
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Step 3 of 5
Download Intelligent Mail software
Intelligent Mail Data
Font software Converts printing instructions into
barcode
Encoder software Converts intelligent data into printing
instructions
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Example
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Download Software
Or contact the
National Customer
Support Center at
(877) 640-0724
To download fonts/encoders, request a user ID and password at https://ribbs.usps.gov/OneCodeSolution/
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Free Encoders
Language and Applications Supported
Operating System C Java 2 COBOL PL/1 MS Access MS Excel
MVS, z/OS, and OS/390 Yes Yes Yes Yes
VSE/ESA Yes Yes Yes
OS/400 Yes Yes Yes
AIX Yes Yes
Linux for pSeries Yes Yes
Linux for Intel (including Intel-compatible systems)
Yes Yes
Programmer Version for Windows Yes Yes
MS Office Version for Windows Yes Yes
Three new encoders coming online this year:
Mac OS, HP/UX, and Solaris.
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Free Fonts
Type
Fonts Fixed Pitch Bitmap Scalable
The Advanced Function Printing (AFP) Yes
The XEROX Metacode Yes
Hewlett Packard’s PCL Yes
Adobe’s Postscript Yes Yes
TrueType Yes
New shorter-height fonts (close to the minimum 0.125”) being developed and tested.
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Other Software Available
Other products for IM barcode artwork
● IDAutomation – Encoding and Fonts
● HALLoGRAM Publishing – Barcode Pro
● Seagull Scientific, Inc. - Bartender
● Envelope Manager Software - DAZzle
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Step 4 of 5
Populate the Barcode Fields
● Barcode ID defines the presort makeup in conjunction with an Optional Endorsement Line (OEL).
● Service Type ID defines the mail class and any services requested (e.g., OneCode Confirm, OneCode ACS).
Do not use “000”
● Mailer ID is a 6-digit or 9-digit number that uniquely identifies the mail owner or mailing agent.
● Serial Number uniquely (not always!) identifies the mailpiece or mailing.
● Routing Code is used to encode the destination ZIP Code of the mailpiece.
Never pad ZIP Code with zeroes, spaces or any other digits that are not part of the ZIP Code; same as POSTNET
IM Barcode does not require CHECK DIGIT
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Step 5 of 5
Put Everything Together and Generate the Barcode● Once you have selected service(s), received
your Mailer ID, and devised a unique Serial Number strategy, you are ready to:
Put all the data fields together to form the digit string
Pass the digit string to the encoder
Apply the font to the encoded 65 bar string
Note: the IM barcode is ALWAYS 65 bars
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IM Barcode Specification History
2005: height between 0.160 and 0.230
2006: height between 0.134 and 0.230
2007: height between 0.125 and 0.165
● September 2007: font packages on RIBBS updated to remove tall (~0.230”) fonts; encoder packages are UNAFFECTED
● Grace period to phase out tall barcode fonts – January 2009
● March 2008: packages will be updated to add short (~0.125”) fonts
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Specification Tolerances
Same as POSTNET, except:● 2.667 – 3.225 inches in length (3 bars longer)
● 0.125 – 0.165 inch in height (vs. 0.115 – 0.135)
● 0.028 vertical barcode clearance (vs. 0.040)
Clearance between barcode and text lines
same as clearance between text lines!
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Tilt and Skew Tolerances
< +5° max > -5° max
CL
CL
< +5° max > -5° max
CLCL
Same as POSTNET, except that instead of baseline, you need to look for the centerline!
Barcode Skew Bar Rotation
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Void Specification
0.010
Maximum dot matrix spacing increased from
0.005 to 0.010 inch.
Increase in the allowed space between dots (voids).
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Placement Configurations
Placement on letters
● Address block or
● Barcode clear zone
Placement on flats
● On address side and
● At least 1/8 inch from any edge of the piece
To avoid ambiguity, only one IM barcode can be placed in the same area.
Placement configurations of the IM barcode on a letter-size and flat-size mail are defined in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM™), sections 202 and 302.
JMCXNM5 38141
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Validating IM Barcodes
Manual Tools
● Visual Inspection
● Plastic Templates
● Optical Comparator
Software Tools
● Online Encoder/Decoder
● Scanners and Verifiers
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Plastic Template
Great tool available from local
BSN or MDA
Automation Barcode Gauge Template (Item #04A)
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Using Optical Comparator
Complements Item 04A with ability to
measure exact heights/widths and to assess barcode jitter (~centerline
shift).
Optical Comparator 6X (Eye Gage) by Gageline Technology
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Online Tools
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Online Decoder
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Scanners & Verifiers
Scanners and Verifiers
● The Culver Group – HHP4600 scanner
● Videk – Model 2030 scanner, IMB Verifier
● BÖWE BELL + HOWELL – Mail Verifier Plus (MVP)
● Motorola / Symbol
Scanners – DS3408, DS3478 and DS6707
Mobile computers – MC50, MC70, MC3000, MC9000
Generating Full Service
Barcodes
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Generating IM Tray Labels
For Intelligent Mail Tray labels: Use largest label stock sizes and holders
Obtain and follow the specifications available on the Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: ribbs.usps.gov/ to create and print labels
Proposed Changes - add text area to the right of the 24 digit barcode and accommodate smaller label stock heights; test in March 2008
Plan - Update specifications and DMM changes to allow use of the 10/24 digit Tray Label
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Generating IM Container Barcodes
For Intelligent Mail Container Barcodes: Go to the Rapid Information Bulletin Board System:
ribbs.usps.gov/ for the Intelligent Mail Container Barcode specifications
Plan - DMM update to allow the use of new layout and instructions for the (pallet/placard) labels
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Key Takeaways
Converting to the IM barcode
● Obtaining a Mailer ID is free
● Encoders and fonts available for free; however, integrating an encoder into existing software may require IT involvement
● Applying the IM barcode on mailpieces is the same as POSTNET
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Your Resources
Rapid Information Bulletin Board System: ribbs.usps.gov
● Intelligent Mail Barcode for letters and flats Encoder Software, Fonts and Online Decoding Tool Intelligent Mail Barcode Specifications Technical Resource Guide Mailer ID Guidelines OneCode Confirm and OneCode ACS Technical Guides
● Intelligent Mail Tray Label Specifications
● Intelligent Mail Container Barcode Specifications
Domestic Mail Manual USPS Publications Mailpiece Design Analyst