Effective March 13, 2008, Publication 91, Confirmation Services Technical Guide (dated September 2004 and updated with Postal Bulletin revisions through January 20, 2005) is revised to change parsing requirements for the human-readable bar code. This change will allow both mailers and Postal Service™ personnel to more easily identify the routing ZIP™ Code on bar code labels.
Publication 91, Confirmation Services Technical Guide
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4 Labels and Bar Codes
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Bar Code Identification Format
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Parsing
[Revise the section on parsing (currently one paragraph) to read as follows:]
For labels with only a Package Identification Code (PIC), there are no changes. The human-readable representation of the bar code must be parsed into groups of four with any remaining digits grouped at the end.
Example (PIC):
9101 0268 3733 1000 0395 21
For a concatenated bar code (which has a PIC and a Postal Routing Code), the parsing allows easy visibility of the Postal Service routing code and is used as follows: The first group is the 3-digit “420” Application Identifier, followed by a space; the second group is the 5-digit Postal Service routing code, followed by a space; the third group is the 4-digit ZIP+4® (if used), followed by a space; and the remaining human-readable numbers are parsed in groups of four, with any remaining digits grouped at the end.
Example (concatenated bar code):
420 22153 9101 0268 3733 1000 0395 21
For a concatenated bar code, all elements of the bar code must be displayed in human-readable text below the bar code. For current and future automated mail processing purposes, the Postal Service prefers that all mailers include a routing ZIP Code on their package labels and also prefers the use of a concatenated bar code format. (Postal Service routing codes are required for Standard Mail and Package Services parcel bar codes.)
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ZIP Identifier for Concatenated Bar Codes
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[In the images of the two options for the bar codes, revise the human-readable text underneath the bar codes to reflect the parsing change — i.e., the first eight numbers should read “420 20260” (rather than “4202 0260”). The following image shows the revisions.]
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of Publication 91 and also into the online version of Publication 91, which is available on the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site:
(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov/cpim.)
It is also available on the Postal Service Internet:
- Go to www.usps.com.
- Click on All Products & Services, then Publications, then Postal Periodicals and Publications, and then Publication 91.
— Product Information Requirements,
Product Development, 3-13-08
