WD97: Mail Merge Attached Envelope Does Not Create Bar Code

ID: Q197433


The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Word 97 for Windows


SYMPTOMS

When you create mail merge form letter documents and attach envelopes, bar codes fail to print on your envelopes, even though you selected the Delivery Point Bar Code option.


CAUSE

By default, envelopes attached to mail merge form letter documents do not include POSTNET delivery-point bar codes. When you attach an envelope to an existing mail merge form letter, Word has no way to determine which field contains bar code information. The steps that allow determination of ZIP Code fields are bypassed. Although the Delivery Point Bar Code option is available under the Envelope options, Word cannot interpret the MERGEFIELD information into bar code information.


WORKAROUND

To create mail merge envelopes with bar codes, use the Envelopes option, or manually insert a BARCODE field above the existing envelope address fields on the envelope, as follows:

  1. Position the insertion point before the first character of the first line of address fields. Press ENTER to create a blank line above the existing address.


  2. Press CTRL+F9 to create field codes. Type the following within the field codes.

    NOTE: You may need to turn on the field codes to complete the entry below. To do this, press ALT+F9. After you complete the entry, press ALT+F9 to turn the field codes off, as in the following example:
    {BARCODE "{Mergefield Address1}<P>
    {Mergefield PostalCode}" \u \* mergeformat}
    where Address1 is the field containing the street address or postal box information, <P> represents a paragraph mark, and "PostalCode" is the name of the field that contains the ZIP Code information.

    Use the following example:
    {BARCODE \u {mergefield zipcode}}
    where zipcode is the mergefield that contains the postal code.


For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
Q144608 Error Message in Place of BARCODE Field

Additional query words: FIM-A

Keywords : word97 kbmerge
Version : WINDOWS:97
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: August 23, 1999
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