USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode Encoding

[EmmaLu]

I see a few years back some posted a question about how to implement a DLL that was used to encode postal mailing information into the new USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode sequence.

I would like to find that or a similar way to create the encoding.

Thanks Emma

 

[Dan Freeman]

What have you tried? What didn't work?

http://tinyurl.com/4htorlu

 

[EmmaLu]

I haven't tried anything yet except trying to figure out how to do the encoding myself which seems pretty complex based on the information at the USPS website. Basically it takes information from these 5 pieces of data:

Barcode ID
Special Services
Mailer ID
Serial Number
Delivery Point Zip Code

and encodes it to a 65 letter string something like this.

AFTAAFFFTTTAADDFTTAAATTDTDTDADAFFTFATTTTTAAAAFDDDAADDFFDFTFFDAFAT

The string is then printed as a barcode on mailing pieces. The part I am struggling with is the encoding.

A previous post back in 2008 on this forum entitled "Calling a DLL from VFP" seemed to indicate that there might be a DLL possibly named "USPS4CB" that does the encoding.

My question is: Does such a DLL exist for encoding Intelligent Mail Barcode strings and if so where might I find it?

Thanks - Emma

 

[JRB-Bldr]

If you had used the Search tool within this forum and looked for USPS you would have found a list of postings referencing something about it.

One of those postings was:
Barcode GS1 128c
thread184-1561073

Another one is:
Calling a DLL from VFP
thread184-1449438
Where the original poster says:
"I'm trying to call a DLL that is a USPS encoder for producing a Intelligent Mail Barcode....."

I won't say that the answer is there, but it seems likely that it might put you onto the correct path.

Good Luck,
JRB-Bldr

 

[EmmaLu]

Of course I already used the Search tool and read both of those posts before asking the original question, but never mind I figured out another way to find the DLL that I was looking for. Not sure if I want to share the answer with the slightly rude JRB-Bldr.

 

[Dan Freeman]

It's rude to ask others to do your work for you, too.

 

[EmmaLu]

Just to be clear. JRB-Bldr was falsely accusing me of not Searching prior posts before I asked a question. I realize that it is very annoying to have visitors ask the same question over and over again. That is why I ALYWAY perform a Search of this site before posting a question. I have been visiting this site for years and always find everyone very helpful.

In this case however it was obvious to me that before JRB-Bldr replied to my post, HE failed to even read it in which I clearly noted the prior post that I had already read "Calling a DLL from VFP".

And to further clarify. I am not asking anyone to do any work for me. I just saw that other post and thought maybe the person who posted it might like to share where he found the DLL. If answering that simple question seems like work to anyone then their job must be quite different from mine.

JRB-Bldr obviously did some work in digging up those old posts and pointing them out to me. But if he had just spent the time to read my post he would have realized I had already done that and that he had no answer to my question and was wasting his time and the time of everyone else on the forum.

Now, I am wasting everyone's time. I never want to offend anyone at this site as it has been a wonderful source for me over the years, but I did find JRB-Bldr's response a bit snippy. Maybe he was just having a bad day.

 

[Mike Gagnon]

Emmanalu

You can find a version of this DLL here:

http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=20473

Mike Gagnon

If you want to get the best response to a question, please check out FAQ184-2483 first.
ReFox XI (www.mcrgsoftware.com)

 

[EmmaLu]

Thanks Mike that is exactly what I was looking for.

Emma