Knowledge Base

WD: Delivery Point Bar Code Option Unavailable in Envelope Merge

PSS ID Number: 187903

Article Last Modified on 11/5/2000

The information in this article applies to:

This article was previously published under Q187903

SYMPTOMS

When you create envelopes as part of a mail merge operation, the Delivery Point Bar Code and FIM-A Courtesy Reply Mail options are unavailable (appear dimmed).

CAUSE

The Barcode option on the envelope dialog may appear dimmed if a country other than United States is selected in the International (Regional Settings in Windows 95 or later) dialog box in Control Panel.

WORKAROUND

Although the options are unavailable, if you click OK, the Insert Postal Bar Code button is available in the Envelope Address dialog box. Click Insert Postal Bar Code and select the field names that contain your bar code address information.

Word adds the postal codes to your mail merge envelope, and they merge and print correctly.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

The FIM (Facing Identification Mark) identifies the front side of the envelope.

There are two situations where the FIM-A feature is used: when you create a single envelope outside of a mail merge, and when you perform an envelope mail merge. To add the FIM-A to your envelopes, use the appropriate method for your situation.

Single Envelope

  1. On the Tools menu, click Envelopes And Labels.
  2. On the Envelopes tab, click Options.
  3. Click to select the Delivery Point Barcode check box. The "FIM-A courtesy reply mail" check box becomes available.
  4. Click to select the "FIM-A courtesy reply mail" check box.

Envelope Mail Merge

  1. On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.
  2. Under Main Document, click Create and then click Envelopes.
  3. Click New Main Document to create a new document for the envelopes.
  4. Under Data Source, click Get Data to attach a data file or to create a new data file.
  5. After you have attached the data file, click Set Up Main Document.
  6. In the Envelope Options dialog box, click OK.
  7. In the Envelope Address dialog box, click "Insert Postal Bar Code."
  8. In the "Merge field with ZIP code" list, click the field name that contains the ZIP code.
  9. Click to select the "FIM-A courtesy reply mail" check box, which is now available.
NOTE: If your data source is the Personal Address Book, selecting the FIM-A check box will not generate a FIM-A on the main document for the envelope mail merge.

For additional information about barcodes please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

107789 WD: Mail Merge Attached Envelope Does Not Create Barcode

105576 WD: Position of Bar Codes Is Certified by U.S. Postal Service

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Word User's Guide," version 6.0, pages 652-655

Additional query words: FIM-A dim dimmed grey greyed gray grayed out not available disabled barcode label fima personal address book

Keywords: kbbug kbenvelope kbmerge KB187903
Technology: kbWord600 kbWord600a kbWord600c kbWord95 kbWord95a kbWord95Search kbWordSearch kbZNotKeyword2


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