Postal ZIP barcodes

[dbuelke]

I've searched the forums and Help and can't find any reference about entering and printing postal barcodes. Is this not available in AOO?

[RusselB]

The only way that I can think of for entering something like that, is to have the barcode in a picture format, and then work with that picture.
Bar codes are finicky things to deal with, and what works for one person might not work for another based on the font used for printing and the quality of the printer.
Can you explain why you want/need this ability? If so, then we might be able to come up with other suggestions.

[dbuelke]

I routinely used them in MS Word when addressing envelopes. I was able to insert a field for the ZIP code as a number following the state on the address label and tie it to a barcode field that would automatically print the ZIP barcode below the address like most commercial mail I see nowadays. Word apparently had the ZIP code bar format in it's program.

[RusselB]

Seems someone (actually more than one person) has thought about this. There are extensions at http://extensions.openoffice.org/en/sea ... order=DESC

One difference I did note, is that these seem to be for Calc not Writer, which is the OO "equivalent" to MS Word... still you might be able to get them working.

[Greengiant224]

I think what the OP is looking for is called a PostNet barcode not the usual QR or 11/13 EAN type.
Unfortunately, I think you will have to carry on using Word or use external software to generate an image
of each Zip barcode and then insert it to the address label.

This might be more work than the job is worth.

Greengiant224

[RusselB]

If that's the case, then the OP might want to take a look at some of the results generated by this Google search
I've never had an opportunity to use them, and now I understand why. It seems they are only recognized by USPS and (at one point) allowed businesses a discount on their mailing costs.

[Greengiant224]

RusselB:
It seems they are only recognized by USPS and (at one point) allowed businesses
a discount on their mailing costs.

I think USPS as well as the UK Royal Mail still use these barcodes to help 'invoice' large users of their services
which enables them to offer big discounts on the volume of mail sent.

I am unaware of the characters that go to make up a valid postnet/royal mail barcode.

Here is a link to a barcode generator that the OP might find useful.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/zint/

Hope this helps,

Greengiant224

[orionstar]

I found a Truetype Font set for the US Postal barcodes at
https://www.smarty.com/archive/how-to-p ... ce-org-3-1
free download link https://www.smarty.com/fonts/postnet/postnet.ttf .
I installed it into Windows 7 and it shows up in the font list in swriter after I restarted OpenOffice.
Copy the zipcode and paste it elsewhere in the address. (I usually see it positioned toward the bottom of the envelope or as the first line of the address. In theory, the scanner should be able to find it anywhere on the front but it may be easier when away from the rest of the address.)
Highlight the copied zipcode and change the font to USPS Bar Code.
Done.