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From: blarson%castor.usc.edu@USC-OBERON.ARPA.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.telecom
Subject: Re: Postal bar codes
Message-ID: <8701210646.AA18884@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: Sun, 4-Jan-87 10:28:20 EST
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Posted: Sun Jan  4 10:28:20 1987
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In article <8612240416.AA04419@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU> wales@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU (Rich Wales) writes:
>
>I have some observations and questions regarding the "bar codes" which
>the U.S. Postal Service has been using for a while on mail.

The post office is not secritive about such matters, espessially if
they think you will be using them in large quantity mailings.  I've
seen a brochure on where to position the address, stamp, etc.
(including bar code) picked up at the post office.

When USC made an inquiry about converting to 9-digit zips, they not
only gave us information, but had a couple of people come out and help
us evaluate what would be involved in the conversion.  The database is
free, on 9-track tapes.  (If I remember correctly, something like 25
6250 bpi tapes -- several hundred megabytes of data if packed, a
couple of gigabytes if left in their fixed length format with some
unused bits.)  The program to access the database is non-trivial,
unless your input data is standarized (2nd St. vs Second Street, etc.)
and perfect.  Once you have a good program, it can even be used to
test the plausiblity of an address: i.e. there is no 1200 block of
Ridge Way in Medford, OR.  

They also offer regional tapes and will convert small mailing lists
free.  $.005/peice is the extra discount for using 9-digit zip or
carrier route sorting rather than 5-digit zip sorting.
-- 
Bob Larson
Arpa: Blarson@Usc-Eclb.Arpa
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