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PC-SIG Diskette Library (Disk #1758)
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Information about “POSTNET”
Save money at the post office by taking advantage of "bar code bulk
rates." POSTNET will allow you to add bar codes to labels or envelopes
so you can qualify for lower postage rates. Any database or other label
program you might currently be using can feed addresses to POSTNET in an
ASCII file. As long as your addresses are three lines long and all have
the zip code on the third line POSTNET can automatically print your
labels on one-up label stock.
POSTNET is your first step to getting the most out of your postage
dollar. Your Postal Office bulk mailing representative can show you how
to do the presort, and how to convert your old five digit zip codes to
the +4 format. This program supports most dot matrix printers
including 24-pin printers and the Okidata 192.
FILE1758.TXT
Disk No: 1758
Disk Title: PostNet
PC-SIG Version: S1
Program Title: PostNet
Author Registration: $25.00
Special Requirements: Graphics Dot Motrx Printer (or Emulator)
Save money at the post office by taking advantage of ``bar code bulk
rates.'' POSTNET will allow you to add bar codes to labels or envelope
so you can qualify for lower postage rates. Any database or other label
program you might currently be using can feed addresses to POSTNET in an
ASCII file. As long as your addresses are three lines long and all have
the zip code on the third line POSTNET can automatically print your
labels on one-up label stock.
POSTNET is your first step to getting the most out of your postage
dollar. Your Postal Office bulk mailing representative can show you how
to do the presort and even how to convert your old five digit zip codes
to the +4 format. This program supports most dot matrix printers
including 24-pin printers and the Okidata 192.
PC-SIG
1030D East Duane Avenue
Sunnyvale Ca. 94086
(408) 730-9291
(c) Copyright 1989 PC-SIG, Inc.
GO.TXT
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║ <<<< Disk #1758 POSTNET >>>> ║
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║ To start program, type: POSTNET ║
║ ║
║ To print documentation, type: COPY POSTNET.DOC PRN ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
POSTNET.DOC
POSTNET ADDRESSING PROGRAM
USER MANUAL
Version 1.0
by
NELSON HOCHBERG
NELDON ENTERPRISES INC.
P O BOX 192
FLAGSTAFF AZ 86002-0192
Wednesday, June 21, 1989
This is a user-supported product. It is not public domain and it is not
free. You are granted a limited license to use this product on a trial
basis. If you wish to continue using the product after evaluating it,
please register. Send $25.00 to the address below. (Using the postnet
barcode on your bulk mailing would save you $25.00 on 5000 pieces. All the
tips in this manual could save you $25.00 on a 555 piece mailing.) The
POSTNET.COM program will print a registration form (by pressing 'R' at the
opening screen). You may make copies of this software for your friends or
computer club, etc. if you copy all the files on the disk and put
"POSTNET.COM (c) 1989 Nelson Hochberg" on the disk label. You may not
resell the software for your own profit.
BENEFITS OF REGISTRATION:
Your $25.00 registration will get you: 1) technical support; 2) one free
driver for custom output and other printers; 3) one free update; 4) free
correction disks within an update (you pay for the disk and postage); 5) if
you're a registered user, we will convert your disk to POSTNET input file
format for $15 per disk; 6) a warm, honest feeling; 7) protection from
copyright infringement suits (may happen); 7) a company continuing to
support the product. If enough people register, we will release updates
with improvements (see Chapter 11 Planned Future Improvements.) If not
enough people register, then the POSTNET.COM program you now have is it --
no future improvements will be available.
THIS SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING WRITTEN MATERIALS, INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS FOR
USE, ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY AS TO THEIR PERFORMANCE,
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS
TO THE RESULTS AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE IS ASSUMED BY YOU.
If you purchased the software directly from Neldon Enterprises Inc., we will
replace a defective diskette without charge for 90 days after you purchase
it.
IN NO EVENT SHALL NELSON HOCHBERG, NELDON ENTERPRISES INC. OR ANYONE ELSE
WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS
SOFTWARE BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
(INCLUDING DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS
OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, AND THE LIKE) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR INABILITY
TO USE THE PRODUCT, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES.
CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Program Description and System Requirements . . . . . page 3
Chapter 2. Selecting a Printer Driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3
Chapter 3. Input File Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3
Chapter 4. Command Line Input. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3
Chapter 5. Main Screen Selections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4
Chapter 6. Error/Pause Screen Selections . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4
Chapter 7. Entering Addresses Directly from Keyboard . . . . . . page 5
Chapter 8. Modifying/Writing a Printer Driver. . . . . . . . . . page 5
Chapter 9. Locating the Postnet Bar Code on the Mailer . . . . . page 6
Chapter 10. Other Bulk Mailing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7
Chapter 11. Planned Future Improvements . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 7
Chapter 12. A Final Word about Shareware and NEInc. . . . . . . . page 8
POSTNET.DOC page 3
CHAPTER 1 Program Description
The POSTNET program reads a file of addresses, prints it on a dot matrix
printer (or a lasar printer that will emulate a dot matrix printer) in any
format and adds the U.S. Postal Office postnet bar code.
System Requirements
POSTNET-EXE requires 64K of memory, at least one disk drive, and a dot matrix
printer capable of graphics.
CHAPTER 2 Selecting a Printer Driver
There are several printer drivers on the disk. If you have an Epson, IBM or
compatible printer, the first one to try would be the generic driver.
GENERIC.LBL will print 3 1/2 " by 1" labels and GENERIC.ENV will print
standard business size envelopes. OKI192.LBL and OKI192.ENV are for an
Okidata 192 and compatible printers. If you have a 24 pin printer, try the
LQ1500 drivers for greater speed. They redefine characters for the zip code
as opposed to using the graphics mode. The printer driver you will be using
most should be renamed to POSTNET.DRV (see Chapter 4 Command Line Input).
CHAPTER 3 Input File Format
The input file should be an ASCII format file as shown:
SOMEONE'S NAME
1234 SOMEPLACE ST
SOMEWHERE ST 12345-6789
Each address is three lines long with a carriage return/line feed pair at
the end of each line. The third line should have a ZIP Code in it. If
POSTNET.COM finds an address without a ZIP Code on the third line, it will
stop on that line and display the three lines (see Chapter 6). You then
have the option of printing that line without the ZIP Code. Each line can be
a maximum of 32 characters long.
CHAPTER 4 Command Line Input
The proper command line input is:
postnet d:\path\filename [d:\path\drivername]
The file name is required. The printer driver name is optional. If the
drive and path is not specified, the default drive and path will be used.
If a printer driver is not specified, the default printer driver
"POSTNET.DRV" will be used, so if there is a printer driver you will be
using often, name it POSTNET.DRV to save key strokes.
POSTNET.DOC page 4
CHAPTER 5 Main Screen Selections
Selections on the Main screen are: 'Q' for Quit, 'T' for Test, 'R' for
Registration Form and 'P' to Print. 'Q' will quit POSTNET and return you to
DOS. 'T' prints out a test pattern, one label or one envelope to check for
the printer alignment. You can push 'T' as often as you like until you get
the labels lined up. After pushing 'R', POSTNET will ask you to get the
printer ready to print and then to press a key. The printer will print out a
registration form for you to fill out and mail in. When you push 'P',
POSTNET will ask you to get the printer ready to print and then to press a
key. POSTNET will then read the input file and print. If POSTNET finds an
error in the input file, it will display the error and give you several
options to handle it (see Chapter 6). You can pause printing the input file
by pressing 'P'. POSTNET will then stop at the beginning of the next label
and display that label on the screen. Your printer may not stop immediately
if it or your computer has a printer buffer.
CHAPTER 6 Error Pause Screen Selections
Either when POSTNET finds an error in the input file, or when you push 'P' for
Pause while POSTNET is printing the input file, the Error/Pause screen comes
up. The Error/Pause screen displays the reason POSTNET stopped on the top
line, the record POSTNET stopped at on the next three lines and offers
several options for action on the last line. The reasons POSTNET stopped
and their explanations are:
"Printing stopped. Next record to process:"
You pressed 'P' to Pause.
"Cannot find zip on third line:"
No ZIP Code was found on the third line. The address may not have a
recognizable zip code or the input file may have a missing or extra line
in it.
"Incomplete record at end of file:"
The input file probably has a missing or extra line in it.
Your action options are to press 'Q' for Quit, 'U' for Up, 'D' for Down, 'C'
for Continue and 'P' for Print this record. 'Q' will quit POSTNET and
return you to DOS. 'U' will move POSTNET up one line (toward the beginning)
in the input file. 'D' will move POSTNET down one line (toward the end) in
the input file. 'U' and 'D' are used to realign the input file around an
incomplete record or to skip or reprint a record. 'C' will continue printing
starting with the record showing on the screen and continuing until the file
is printed, or until you press 'P' or an error is found. 'P' will print just
the record that is shown on the screen and then stop. 'P' will print the
record even if it does not have a ZIP Code.
POSTNET.DOC page 5
CHAPTER 7 Entering Addresses Directly from the Keyboard
You can enter addresses into POSTNET directly from the keyboard by entering
"postnet con [d:\path\drivername]" as the command line. In this case the
input file is the keyboard--"con" (for console). When you press P for
print, POSTNET will ask you to get the printer ready to print and then to
press a key. After you press a key, nothing will seem to happen. POSTNET
is simply waiting for input. What you type will be shown on the bottom line
of the screen and you can edit that line with the backspace key. When you
press return, the line you just entered can no longer be edited. Enter a
three line address with the ZIP Code on the third line in the same format
that your input file would have. No printing will take place until after
you have entered the third line. You may enter as many three line addresses
as you like. When you are done entering addresses, enter a ^Z (press z
while holding down the control key) on a line by itself and press 'enter'.
POSTNET will then quit normally. The ^Z is the end of file character.
CHAPTER 8 Modifying/writing a printer driver
NEInc. will create a printer driver for you as part of your registration.
If you wish us to do that, send a copy of your printer manual to us with the
registration form. If you would like to create or modify a printer driver
yourself this is how:
A printer driver is an ASCII file and can be modified or created with a text
editor or a word processor using ASCII format. A printer driver is composed
of eight lines. The purpose of the lines is as follows:
Line 1: Printer initiation codes
Line 2: Codes to be sent to the printer before the name line
Line 3: Codes to be sent to the printer before the address line
Line 4: Codes to be sent to the printer before the city, state, zip line
Line 5: Codes to be sent to the printer before the postnet code
Line 6: Codes to be sent to the printer before the next label
Line 7: Printer codes to create the postnet one code
Line 8: Printer codes to create the postnet zero code
POSTNET.DOC page 6
Each line is composed of numbers separated by commas. The number is the
decimal ASCII value of a character to be sent to the printer. For example,
27,69 will send the characters ESC and E to the printer to turn on
emphasized type for an Epson printer. Do not place a comma after the last
number on a line. At the end of each line, you may place a comment within
parenthesis. Anything after the open parenthesis is ignored. The maximum
length of a line (including the comment) is 200 characters. Each line
should have a carriage return/line feed at the end. Here are the characters
for the decimal ASCII values to 127: (1 - 31 are called control codes, 32
is the space character.)
0: NUL 16: DLE 32: " " 48: 0 64: @ 80: P 96: ` 112: p
1: SOH 17: DC1 33: ! 49: 1 65: A 81: Q 97: a 113: q
2: STX 18: DC2 34: " 50: 2 66: B 82: R 98: b 114: r
3: ETX 19: DC3 35: # 51: 3 67: C 83: S 99: c 115: s
4: EOT 20: DC4 36: $ 52: 4 68: D 84: T 100: d 116: t
5: ENQ 21: NAK 37: % 53: 5 69: E 85: U 101: e 117: u
6: ACK 22: SYN 38: & 54: 6 70: F 86: V 102: f 118: v
7: BEL 23: ETB 39: ' 55: 7 71: G 87: W 103: g 119: w
8: BS 24: CAN 40: ( 56: 8 72: H 88: X 104: h 120: x
9: HT 25: EM 41: ) 57: 9 73: I 89: Y 105: i 121: y
10: LF 26: SUB 42: * 58: : 74: J 90: Z 106: j 122: z
11: VT 27: ESC 43: + 59: ; 75: K 91: [ 107: k 123: {
12: FF 28: FS 44: , 60: < 76: L 92: \ 108: l 124: |
13: CR 29: GS 45: - 61: = 77: M 93: ] 109: m 125: }
14: SO 30: RS 46: . 62: > 78: N 94: ^ 110: n 126: ~
15: SI 31: US 47: / 63: ? 79: O 95: _ 111: o 127: DEL
The specifications for the postnet bar code is in "A Guide to Business Mail
Preparation" available from the U.S. Postal Office. Here is an abbreviated
specification list for the bar code:
Bar width 0.020 +/- 0.005"
Bar spacing (center to center) 0.045" min - 0.050" max
Pitch 21 +/- 1 bars per inch
One code bar height (tall bar) 0.125 +/- 0.010"
Zero code bar height (short bar) 0.050 +/- 0.010"
CHAPTER 9 Locating the Postnet Bar Code on the Mailer
The ".LBL" printer driver will place the bar code in the correct position on a
3-1/2" X 1" label. The ".ENV" printer driver will place the bar code in the
correct position on a 9-1/2 X 4-1/8 standard business envelope. The location
of the bar code on the mailer is specified in "A Guide to Business Mail
Preparation". The postnet bar code should be in the lower right hand corner
of the mailer. The lower left hand corner of the bar code should be 3-7/8"
to 3-1/4" to the left of the right edge of the mailer. The bottom of the bar
code should be between 3/16" and 5/16" of an inch from the bottom edge of
the mailer. Figure 11 on page 38 of "A Guide to Business Mail Preparation"
will show you where bar code is supposed to go. If you will be using labels
on a pre-printed mailer, have a thin, faint line printed on your mailer at
the proper location. Place your labels so that the bar code lines up with
that line.
POSTNET.DOC page 7
CHAPTER 10. Other Bulk Mailing Tips
To get the bar code bulk rate, the mail must meet the 5 digit presort rate
requirements and have ZIP + 4 ZIP Codes. Explanation on how to prepare
mail for the 5 digit presort rate is in "Third-Class Mail Preparation"
available from the Postal Office. Your Postal Office bulk mailing
representative can show you how to do the presort. He or she may also have
periodic classes on the subject.
If you do not have ZIP + 4 on your addresses, the Postal Office has a free
service to provide it. You give the Postal Office A COPY (not your
original) of your mailing database on floppy disk(s); they will return it
with the +4 extension added. The service has two additional benefits: the
returned database will be modified to fit the Postal Office recommended
format (all capitals, no punctuation and standard abbreviations) and any
problem addresses will be identified. Your database must be in a fixed
length format and a special form must be filled out specifying the field
lengths and turned in with the disk(s). It is best to have an extra 4
spaces (or 5 if you want the '-' in the zip + 4 code) added to your database
behind the 5 digit zip code. Most of the larger post offices have a
computer specialist that can help you. If you are registered with us, we
will also give you some help. You can also send your database to us. We
will add the necessary space, figure out the field lengths, fill out the
form, do the necessary communication with the Postal Office, check the
modified disk and return the modified disk to you. We charge $25.00 per
disk for this service to registered owners of POSTNET.
If your database is on magnetic tape, you must use a third party vendor to
get the +4 added. Your Post Office representative can give you a list of
the approved third party vendors in your area. If your mailing list is
large enough, these third party vendors can sort the list for carrier
presort. This could save you additional money in your mailing.
CHAPTER 11. Planned Future Improvements
NEInc. is planning the following future improvements to POSTNET (if enough
people register):
1) The ability to print labels 2,3 and 4 up and output to laser printers.
2) A memory resident version that will:
a) grab an address from the screen and print it with the postnet code.
b) grab data being sent to the printer and add the postnet code,
eliminating the need to create another file.
3) A complete mailing database manager that will be able to import data,
sort it for 5 digit presort, automatically fill out the mailing manifest
for the Postal Office, automatically fill out the form for the zip + 4
service provided by the Postal Office and print out the postnet bar
codes.
4) We will also offer bulk mailing products (label affixers, labels, etc.)
if the interest is there.
POSTNET.DOC page 8
CHAPTER 12. A final word about Shareware and NEInc.
POSTNET.COM is the first software product released by NEInc. We have
decided to release it through the Shareware network as a test because we
believe in the concept. Shareware marketing can provide you, the buyer with
a quality product for considerably less. This is because commercial
marketing is very expensive. If we marketed POSTNET conventionally, we
would have to sell the same product for three to four times more to pay for
advertising. For us, Shareware reduces the risk as our up front marketing
costs are significantly lower.
NEInc. has been developing a major software product for the past 2-1/2
years, a full featured double entry accounting package that is as easy to
use as writing a check. We hope to release the first version by the end of
1989. If Shareware marketing of POSTNET is successful, we shall market the
accounting package through Shareware.
It is up to you. Remember, using this software without registering is not
only illegal, it is dishonest.
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #1758
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
FILE1758 TXT 2073 12-19-89 1:01p
GENERIC ENV 295 6-15-89 9:54a
GENERIC LBL 262 6-15-89 9:52a
GO BAT 38 1-01-80 1:37a
GO TXT 540 1-01-80 4:57a
LQ1500 ENV 392 6-15-89 10:25a
LQ1500 LBL 356 6-06-89 5:38a
OKI192 ENV 270 6-07-89 6:07a
OKI192 LBL 293 6-06-89 10:12p
POSTNET COM 15184 8-22-89 11:18a
POSTNET DOC 18941 8-22-89 11:16a
11 file(s) 38644 bytes
118784 bytes free