WD: Delivery Point Bar Code Option Unavailable in Envelope Merge

• 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

SYMPTOMS

When you create envelopes as part of a mail merge operation, the Delivery Point Bar Code and FIM-A Courtesy Reply Mail options are unavailable (appear dimmed).

CAUSE

The Barcode option on the envelope dialog may appear dimmed if a country other than United States is selected in the International (Regional Settings in Windows 95) dialog box in Control Panel.

WORKAROUND

Word versions 6.x, 7.x

Although the options are unavailable, if you click OK, the Insert Postal Bar Code button is available in the Envelope Address dialog box. Click Insert Postal Bar Code and select the field names that contain your bar code address information.

Word adds the postal codes to your mail merge envelope, and they merge and print correctly.

Word 97

When you create an envelope mail merge in Word 97 with the FIM-A option enabled and you choose any data source, the FIM-A barcode will not be added to the mail merge main document.

To work around this problem, manually add the FIM-A barcode to the mail merge main document. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Using the Drawing toolbar, add a text box to the envelope in the approximate location and size for the FIM-A barcode.

2. Place the insertion point inside the text box.

3. Type the following field code, where Postal_Code is the name of the field containing the zip codes in your data file. (To create the curly braces, press CTRL+F9):

         {BARCODE "{Mergefield Postal_Code}" \u \f "a" \* mergeformat}
   

4. Press ALT+F9, if necessary, to view the FIM-A.

5. Drag the text box if necessary, to adjust the position of the FIM-A.

6. Proceed with the mail merge.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

MORE INFORMATION

The FIM (Facing Identification Mark) identifies the front side of the envelope.

There are two situations where the FIM-A feature is used: when you create a single envelope outside of a mail merge, and when you perform an envelope mail merge. To add a FIM-A to your envelopes, use the appropriate method for your situation.

Single Envelope

1. On the Tools menu, click Envelopes and Labels.

2. On the Envelopes tab, click Options.

3. Click to select the Delivery Point Barcode check box. The "FIM-A courtesy reply mail" check box becomes available.

4. Click to select the "FIM-A courtesy reply mail" check box.

Envelope Mail Merge

1. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.

2. Under Main Document, click Create and then click Envelopes.

3. Click New Main Document to create a new document for the envelopes.

4. Under Data Source, click Get Data to attach a data file or to create a new data file.

5. After you have attached the data file, click Set Up Main Document.

6. In the Envelope Options dialog box, click OK.

7. In the Envelope Address dialog box, click "Insert Postal Bar Code."

8. In the "Merge field with ZIP code" list, click the field name that contains the zip code.

9. Click to select the "FIM-A courtesy reply mail" check box, which is now available.

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, pages 652-655

For additional information about barcodes please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

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

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

NOTE: If the Assistant is hidden, click the Office Assistant button on the Standard toolbar. If Word Help is not installed on your computer, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q120802
   TITLE     : Office: How to Add/Remove a Single Office
               Program or Component