POSTNET BARCODE PURPOSE POSTNET Barcode Certification is a process that evaluates the ability of printers and software to produce quality barcodes capable of being scanned by the United States Postal Service’s barcode scanning equipment. POSTNET Barcode Certification also allows for compatibility testing of software and printers and listing of certified products by vendor name, product name, model, version number, etc. This certification program is available to manufacturers of printers, software, and systems (micro, mini, or mainframe). Manufacturer participation is strictly voluntary. POSTNET Barcode Certification by the USPS does not warrant components for any purpose, nor does it ensure or guarantee mail acceptance. OVERVIEW Manufacturers of printer and software products capable of producing POSTNET barcodes are encouraged to participate in the barcode certification program because it serves as a quality control check for manufacturers to use in verifying barcode quality prior to product release. Barcode specifications are listed in the Domestic Mail Manual (D M M) and Publication 25, Designing Letter Mail (Sections 5.3 through 5.6). In addition, the POSTNET Barcode Certification Vendor’s List is published quarterly to assist USPS customers in purchasing POSTNET barcode equipment. Certification can be conducted at a vendor’s manufacturing site, customer site, or in some cases, at the National Customer Support Center (N C S C) in Memphis, Tennessee. An address file containing 308 addresses is used for testing, and this test file, which is provided to vendors upon application, consists of addresses that produce all variations of check digits. The test file is available in ASCII fixed length, comma delimited, dBase, and block formats. Available media include 3.5" or 5.25" diskettes. A representative from the NCSC will verify production of test samples and answer any technical questions that arise during testing. Testing is intended to evaluate dimensional and mathematical qualities of the POSTNET barcode. Height, width, pitch, tilt, and offset are measured for dimensional quality, and the barcode (containing ZIP+4, delivery point, and check digit codes) is checked for mathematical quality. POSTNET BARCODE CERTIFICATION In April 1988, the USPS implemented the Coding Accuracy Support System (CASS), which was designed to improve the accuracy of ZIP+4, 5-Digit ZIP, and carrier route codes appearing on mail-pieces. This was accomplished by providing service bureaus, commercial mailers, and software vendors a common platform by which to measure and quantify address matching software accuracy. The U S P S has expanded upon the success of CASS and responded to requests from the mailing industry by providing the POSTNET Barcode Certification program. During the certification process, the U S P S will evaluate and certify printers, computer software, or systems (micro, mini, and mainframe) that produce POSTNET barcodes to verify that the barcodes meet all dimensional and mathematical specifications required by USPS barcode-reader equipment. However, this process only validates the ability of the equipment or software to correctly produce the POSTNET barcode. The readability of the barcode is a separate issue influenced by factors such as paper, ink, reflectance, and the "background noise" of an individual mailpiece. Therefore, readability is not included in the certification criteria; however, readability requirements are outlined in Publication 25, Designing Letter Mail (Section 5.7). Recognizing the need for flexibility in the certification process, the U S P S offers three certification options. POSTNET Barcode Certification can be performed at the vendor’s facility, at the NCSC in Memphis, Tennessee, or at the NCSC with the assistance of vendor technicians. Manufacturers who successfully complete the certification process will be issued a U S P S POSTNET Barcode Certificate of Quality and listed, along with their products, in the quarterly POSTNET Barcode Certification Vendors List. The list is available upon request from the NCSC by calling 800-238-3150. We encourage printer and software vendors to allow the USPS to retain certain pieces of equipment and software for a period of time at the NCSC certification site for use as a test bed for ongoing validation of newly developed barcode software and printers. A cross-reference matrix of all software and the printers on which the software has been certified will be maintained and published. TEST PROCEDURES FOR POSTNET BARCODE CERTIFICATION 1. Upon receiving your test files on diskette, you will have four different formats from which to choose: ASCII fixed length, ASCII delimited, ASCII block, and dBase. 2. Prior to certification, you will need to run some samples on the chosen media. Only the 9-digit ZIP+4 Code and the 11-digit delivery point barcode code will be tested. If your component is capable of producing the barcode in the lower right corner and the address block, we would like to see both. 3. For testing purposes, we will be accepting the following samples: A. Lower right corner (9-digit or D P B C) 200 each B. Address block (9-digit or D P B C) 100 each 4. Samples in N L Q and draft modes (where applicable) will be taken by dividing the quantities in half. 5. An evaluation of the samples will be performed at the N C S C. You will be notified verbally of the results. If your samples meet all specifications, a date will be chosen for the actual certification. BARCODE CERTIFICATION TEST RECORD LAYOUT Field Number 1 Field Description Name Logical Length 30 Relative Postion from 01 through 30 Field Number 2 Field Description Title Logical Length 30 Relative Postion from 31 through 60 Field Number 3 Field Description Delivery Address Logical Length 40 Relative Postion from 61 through 100 Field Number 4 (optional field) Field Description Last Line Logical Length 40 Relative Postion from 101 through 140 Field Number 5 Field Description City Name Logical Length 28 Relative Postion from 141 through 168 Field Number 6 Field Description State Abbreviation Logical Length 3 Relative Postion from 169 through 170 Field Number 7 Field Description 5-Digit ZIP Code Logical Length 5 Relative Postion from 171 through 175 Field Number 8 Field Description Add-On Code Logical Length 4 Relative Postion from 176 through 179 Field Number 9 Field Description ZIP+4 (without hyphen) Logical Length 9 Relative Postion from 180 through 188 Field Number 10 (optional field) Field Description ZIP+4 (with hyphen) Logical Length 10 Relative Postion from 189 through 198 Field Number 11 (optional field) Field Description ZIP+4 + Delivery Point Code Logical Length 10 Relative Postion from 199 through 209 Field Number 12 (optional field) Field Description D P B C Add-On Code Logical Length 2 Relative Postion from 210 through 211 Field Number 13 (optional field) Field Description Record Type Code Logical Length 2 Relative Postion from 212 through 213 EXAMPLES Field Sequence Number 1 Field Description Name Record #1 24 6 31 9 1 Field Sequence Number 2 Field Description Title Record #1 Barcode Certification Test Field Sequence Number 3 Field Description Delivery Address Record #1 PO Box 25 Field Sequence Number 4 (optional field) Field Description Last Line Record #1 Loop Station IL 60603-9000 Field Sequence Number 5 Field Description City Name Record #1 Loop Station IL Field Sequence Number 6 Field Description State Abbreviation Record #1 IL Field Sequence Number 7 Field Description 5-Digit Record #1 ZIP Code 60603 Field Sequence Number 8 Field Description Add-On Code Record #1 9000 Field Sequence Number 9 (optional field) Field Description ZIP+4 (without hyphen) Record #1 606039000 Field Sequence Number 10 (optional field) Field Description ZIP+4 (with hyphen) Record #1 60603-9000 Field Sequence Number 11 (optional field) Field Description ZIP+4 + Delivery Point Code Record #1 60603900025 Field Sequence Number 12 (optional field) Field Description D P B C Add-On Code Record #1 25 Field Sequence Number 13 (Optional field) Field Description Record Type Code Record #1 01