Working With Barcodes

Mail Factory can print postal barcodes on labels and envelopes. The supported barcodes are POSTNET, used by United States Postal Service, the Royal Mail barcode, used in the UK, and Canada Post Bar Code. The Postal Service is equipped with automation equipment which recognizes barcodes to sort the mail. This means that your mail will be scanned and sorted by machine rather than manually, which means faster and more reliable service.

So far Mail Factory supports only barcodes, that work in the USA, Canada and the UK. Barcodes can not be used with other addresses. The barcode is based on the ZIP code (Postal code) characters, so make sure you enter the ZIP code correctly.

Barcodes are located inside the Recipient address panel - either above or below the address. For envelopes, you can also place the barcode at the bottom-right corner of the envelope. You will not be able to add a barcode to the Sender address panel.

To enable/disable the barcode:

1. Click inside the Recipient address panel to select it.
2. Open the Inspector Window by clicking the Inspector toolbar button, or choose Show Inspector from the Window menu.
3. Tick the Barcode check box in the Inspector window. Select the barcode position - above or below address. For envelopes, you can also choose the position at the bottom-right corner of the envelope.

Mail Factory also can print FIM on envelopes. FIM (Facing Identification Mark) tells automated processing equipment the data it requires to do its job. FIM allows automatic facing (orientation) of the mail for cancellation (postmarking). FIM is not essential, and is only used with barcoded mail. There are 4 types of FIM codes. Mail Factory supports FIM-A code. Other types are used exclusively with business reply mails.

By default, Mail Factory allows to print FIM-A code on envelopes with US addresses, that bear POSTNET barcode. To turn FIM on, choose Show FIM-A in the View menu.