USPS Intelligent Mail / OneCode 4-State Customer Barcode
This Symbology is also known as Intelligent Mail, OneCode 4CB, USPS 4CB, 4-CB, 4-State Customer Barcode, USPS OneCode Solution Barcode, USPS IM
Overview
Intelligent Mail Barcode (formerly OneCode 4-State Customer Barcode 4-CB) is the next generation in the evolution of USPS barcode technology. It does not replace existing barcodes - it offers a more effective alternative. Partnering with the Mailing Industry, the Postal Service developed the Intelligent Mail which increases the amount of information carried on letter and flats mail pieces and allows for expanded tracking capability, creating greater visibility into the mailstream.
Intelligent Mail is a height-modulated barcode using four distinct, vertical bar types. It encodes a 31-digit string into 65 vertical bars each representing one of four possible states: full bar, ascender, tracker, and descender.
4-State Barcode Bars
Intelligent Mail carries a payload 31 digits comprised of the following elements.
| Type |
Field |
Digits |
| Tracking Code |
Barcode Identifier |
2 (2nd digit must be 0–4) |
| Service Type Identifier |
3 |
| Mailer Identifier |
6 or 9 |
| Serial Number |
9 (when used with 6 digit Mailer ID)
6 (when used with 9 digit Mailer ID) |
| Routing Code |
Delivery Point ZIP Code |
0, 5, 9, or 11 |
Table 1 – USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode Data Fields
For each of the fields in Table 1, except the Routing Code, leading or trailing zeros shall be provided to achieve the correct size. Spaces and nulls are not acceptable characters for padding. For ZIP Codes, which have one of four lengths, encoding shall provide padding beyond the digits to be encoded. No error detection and correction, such as a checksum with POSTNET or PLANET, shall be included as part of the data fields. The Intelligent Mail Barcode Data Fields are described as follows:
- The Barcode Identifier is assigned by USPS for encoding the presort identification that is currently printed in human readable form on the optional endorsement line (OEL) as well as for future USPS use. This is two digits, with the second digit in the range of 0-4.
- The Service Type Identifier is assigned by USPS for any combination of services requested on the mailpiece. The allowable encoding range is 000-999.
- The Mailer or Customer Identifier is assigned by USPS as a unique identifier for each business entity. The allowable encoding range for the 6 digit Mailer ID is 000000-899999, while the allowable encoding range for the 9 digit Mailer ID is 900000000-999999999.
- The Serial or Sequence Number is assigned by the mailer for tracking mailpieces. The allowable encoding range is 000000000-999999999 when used with a 6 digit Mailer ID and 000000-999999 when used with a 9 digit Mailer ID.
- The Delivery Point ZIP Code is assigned by the mailer for routing the mailpiece. This replaces POSTNET for routing the mailpiece to its final delivery point. The length may be 0, 5, 9, or 11 digits. The allowable encoding ranges are no ZIP Code, 00000-99999, 000000000-999999999, and 00000000000-99999999999.
Sample of a USPS Intelligent Mail barcode
How to create USPS Intelligent Mail barcodes using Barcode Professional
Note: Please refer to the Class Reference documentation for more information about the properties and methods stated in this document.
In order to get a USPS Intelligent Mail barcode image, please follow these steps:
- Set the Symbology property to IntelligentMail or UspsOneCode4CB
- Setting up dimensions and quiet zones:
- Set the Postal4StateTrackerBarWidth property to a value ranging from 0.015 to 0.025 (Values are expressed in Inches)
- Set the Postal4StateTrackerBarHeight property to a value ranging from 0.04 to 0.08 (Values are expressed in Inches)
- Set the Postal4StateBarsSpacing property to a value ranging from 0.012 to 0.040 (Values are expressed in Inches)
- Set the QuietZoneWidth property to 0.125 (Value is expressed in Inches)
- Set the TopMargin and BottomMargin properties to 0.04 (Value is expressed in Inches)
- Setting up the value to encode:
- Set the Code property with a value with the following structure:
- 20 digits for Tracking Code which is composed of Barcode Identifier (2 digits and 2nd digit must be 0-4), Service Type Identifier (3 digits), Mailer or Customer Identifier (6 or 9 digits), and Serial or Sequence Number (9 or 6 digits depending on Mailer ID length)
- (Optional) Routing Code (Delivery Point ZIP Code) which can be composed of 0, 5, 9, or 11 digits.
- Examples of values that can be set to the Code property based on the stated in the previous rules:
- 34160265194042788110
- 9002580053457430457568477
- 91562578054046449955601201455
- 0445031376985619365776725552439
- Set the CodeAlignment property to AboveLeft
- Set the Text property to an Empty string
USPS OneCode 4-State Customer barcode images generated based on
the values of point 3
Code property = 34160265194042788110 will
produce the following barcode image:
Code property = 9002580053457430457568477 will
produce the following barcode image:
Code property = 91562578054046449955601201455 will
produce the following barcode image:
Code property = 0445031376985619365776725552439 will
produce the following barcode image:
