WD: Mail Merge Attached Envelope Does Not Create Bar Code

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
• Microsoft Word 97 for Windows
• Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition

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 will 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 is not able to 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 and press ENTER to create a blank line above the existing address.

2. Press CTRL+F9 (Windows) or COMMAND+F9 (Macintosh) to create field codes. Then type the following within the field codes.

   NOTE: You may need to toggle the field codes to complete the entry below. To do this press ALT+F9. After you complete the entry, press ALT+F9 to toggle 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.

   ARTICLE-ID: Q144608
   TITLE     : Error Message in Place of BARCODE Field