March, 1999.

If you are reading this with "notepad", be sure to select Word Wrap from the Edit menu.

Welcome to Postage $aver v4.2.4 for Windows!

To find out if this is the latest version, and to get other information about bulk mailing, check out our web site at http://savepostage.com/download.html

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FREE BARCODING SOFTWARE FOR REGISTERED USERS - SEE BELOW!!
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FOR POSTAGE $AVER TO RUN, P$RUN.EXE MUST BE IN THE "POSTAGE$" DIRECTORY, AND THERE MUST ALSO BE A "TABLES" DIRECTORY IN THE POSTAGE$ DIRECTORY. All files with the .dat extension are supposed to be in the "Tables" directory.  If they are in the Postage$ directory, or if you tried to run Postage $aver and saw a message saying that the directories were probably not created properly, the files have not been properly unzipped. 

To fix this problem, delete all Postage $aver files except the original .zip file and start over.  Your unzipping software must be set to preserve the file's directory structure. If you are using a DOS version of pkunzip, try setting using the command pkunzip -d when you unzip the file.
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This program has been updated to print barcoded sack and tray tags to postal service specifications, and has been updated to meet all USPS requirements through April, 1999.

EXCITING NEWS

This version of Postage $aver has some new and long awaited features:

1.) It can sort your ascii export file in presort order, so you can export your mail merge information, let Postage $aver sort it, then merge it directly into your word processor to get labels, letters, or envelopes all in presort order!

2.) Postage $aver can now read and write directly from Access files, so you don't need to export or import. Be sure to follow the set up instructions in the Help file or this feature will not work correctly. 

3.) Periodical class sorts are finally here, complete with in-county rates! See the Help file for special set up requirements for periodical zones and in-county zip codes.

4.) A new sort wizard and improved help screens make this Postage $aver version the easiest to use (we hope!).

WHAT DOES POSTAGE $AVER DO??

Postage $aver helps you prepare your Standard A bulk mail, first-class automated letter mail, and periodical class mail (Standard class A used to be known as third class.) It does this in several ways.  

First, it reads your mailing list file and prints a detailed, zip code by zip code report telling you exactly what to put in each tray, sack, package and group each time you mail. It also tells you how to label each sack or tray, prints the sack and tray labels with barcodes on standard Avery 5371 or 8371 business card stock, and computes all the postage totals and other information you need to fill out your USPS mailing statement. And, it prints the USPS Qualification Report for each mailing to help the post office verify that you have prepared your mail correctly.

Postage $aver also can sort your mailing list in presort order if your list is in Access format. If you are not using one of those formats, Postage $aver can provide a sorting file that you can import into many mailing list programs, including those based on Filemaker Pro. Or, you can export a mail merge file from your mailing list and Postage $aver will sort that in presort order.

Postage $aver includes all the sorting and rate information for both regular or nonprofit mail, for non-barcoded or barcoded mail, and for letter-sized or flat-sized mail. Postage $aver calculates USPS entry discounts, so you save additional money.


WHAT DO I NEED??

You need a mailing list that is kept in a data base file (like Access, dBase, Filemaker, Works, etc.) rather than a word processing file (like Wordperfect, Word, Write, etc.). There are simple-to-follow instructions in the Postage $aver HELP file in Postage $aver for using Postage $aver with various mailing list software.


WHAT DOES POSTAGE $AVER NOT DO??

It doesn't print address labels.  Your mailing list software or word processor will do that. Postage $aver will sort the file so that it is in the order you need to create your trays or sacks.

WWHAT ABOUT BARCODES??

Mail that is barcoded must be sorted differently than mail that is not barcoded. Postage $aver can sort barcoded mail, but you must upgrade to "Postage $aver Pro" to activate the option for sorting barcoded mail.

To create barcodes on your mail, you need two things:
* a way to calculate what the barcode should say, and
* a barcode printer font to print the barcodes on your labels or envelopes.

Fortunately, you get both when you register your copy of Postage $aver. We are providing a copy of our Secret Barcoder Ring software and a barcode printer font at no extra charge to everyone who registers their copy of Postage $aver, for a limited time.

Secret Barcoder Ring analyzes each address and nine-digit zip code on your data base and creates the correct sequence of digits to form a barcode meeting USPS requirements.  Then, all you do is print that sequence using the barcode font, sort your mailing list with Postage $aver Pro, and you can take advantage of "automation" postage discounts. (Your mail piece must also meet USPS technical requirements for size and shape.)

The USPS requires that the labels on sacks and trays of barcoded presort mail also be barcoded. These barcodes are completely different from those that are used on each piece of mail. (It figures.) Never fear, Postage $aver now produces those barcoded labels (assuming you have a printer that can print them with sufficient clarity.)


WHAT ABOUT CASS CERTIFICATION??

Cass certification is a process by which each address in your mailing list is checked for accuracy and matched with its correct zip code. If you are mailing at basic presort rates, you only need to match to five-digit zip codes.  If you are mailing at automation rates, you need accurate nine-digit zip codes. (You can't make a correct barcode with only a five-digit zip code.)

Postage $aver DOES NOT do Cass certification, or produce the Cass certification report. We know of no inexpensive software that does Cass certification.  If you can imagine the data base involved in matching every address in the country to its correct nine-digit zip code, plus the ability to realize that 123 Fourth St. is the same as 123 4th Street, you get some idea of what is involved. 

Fortunately, the USPS will do the first Cass certification for your list free of charge. (Call them at 800-238-3150 to ask about this, or check with your local USPS business service center.) Then, you can maintain your list by looking up each new or changed address in the official zip+4 directory or on the USPS web site (http://www.usps.gov/ncsc/lookups/). 

Or, if you are willing to spend a little money to save a lot of hassle, many commercial mailing houses will Cass certify your list for a small fee.  One that we have used is Lorton Data at 800-347-1574.  (We mention this only for your convenience - we take no responsiblity for any good or bad experience you may have there.) You can send them your list on disk or via modem and turnaround is fairly fast.  For just a bit more, they will cross-check your list against the past three years' history of postal address changes and give you the forwarding addresses. Eliminating bad addresses usually saves more in wasted postage than the service costs.

Postal sorting software like Postage $aver does not need to be certified. The USPS has begun a voluntary certification program, called "Pave", for postal sorting software, but a mailer is not required to use Pave-certified software, and using Pave certified software will not guarantee that your mail will be accepted. However, we have found that some postal employees seem more willing to trust the accuracy of your bulk mail preparation if you use Pave-certified software. Your copy of Postage $aver is Pave-certified if you have the latest version and if you have made all necessary changes to keep it current with changes in postal service requirements.

DOES POSTAGE $AVER PRODUCE "STANDARD DOCUMENTATION"??

Yes.  Postage $aver produces the USPS Qualification Report, which is the standard documentation referred to in information from the USPS. Note that this report is required ONLY if you are mixing postal classes within the same mailing, or mixing mail pieces with different weights in the same mailing. Most small mailers do neither, and are therefore NOT required to prepare any special documentation. Nonetheless, it might save some time and hassle at the post office if you print this report and submit it with your mailing.

I STILL HAVE MORE QUESTIONS. WHAT DO I DO??

Postage $aver includes a HELP system that explains the operation of the program plus a little bit about bulk mailing requirements. It's a fast read, so we suggest you go through the help system before you try to run a file through Postage $aver. You can find the help files by running Postage $aver and then choosing the Help menu.

If you have read the Help file and are still lost, e-mail us at scott@savepostage.com.

RUNNING POSTAGE $AVER

To run Postage $aver, double-click P$run.exe or the postage stamp icon. 


TEST FILE PROVIDED:

To make it easy for you to try Postage $aver, we've included a short sample file of zip codes, cities and states.  Double-click the postage stamp icon to start the program. Then select "Sort Wizard" from the Sort menu. After filling in the various settings screens, you will be asked to select a file to sort. Choose the sample.txt file. The next screen lets you specify which fields in your data file contain the zip code, city and state. Postage $aver has automatically figured this out for the sample.txt file, so just click OK. Postage $aver will take it from there. 

You can view the contents of the sample.txt file using any word processor, BUT DO NOT SAVE THE SAMPLE.TXT FILE UNLESS YOU "SAVE AS" TEXT ONLY. Saving a file as a standard word processing document, rather than as a text file, will make the file unreadble for Postage $aver.

WHAT IF I HAVE AN OLDER VERSION OF POSTAGE $AVER??

You should delete the entire directory in which it resides. BUT FIRST, you might want to jot down the data on your Settings screens, as you will have to re-enter this information. (Sorry.)  

Also, if your version of Postage $aver is older than 3.0, FIND AND REMOVE THE FILE CALLED "p$Prefs" FROM YOUR MAIN C:\ DIRECTORY. Failure to do so will prevent Postage $aver from operating.

If you have built a periodicals zone table and/or an incounty rates list, you will want to remove these from your existing Postage $aver Tables folder before replacing the folder. Otherwise, you will have to build these again. Move the following files to a safe place on your drive, replace the Postage$ folder, then put these files back into the Postage$/Tables folder (replacing those that come with this new version.) The files you need to save are:
zonelist.dat
zonechrt.dat
incounty.dat
  
YOU CAN PRINT BLANK COPIES OF THE POSTAL MAILING STATEMENT (THE FORM YOU TURN IN WITH YOUR BULK MAIL.)

As a convenience to you, we've included Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) files for the current versions of the postal mailing statement (from the USPS web site). If you have an Adobe Acrobat reader, you can print these files.  If not, you can get the Adobe Acrobat reader free at www.adobe.com.

These forms are in the "forms" directory. They are not necessary for Postage $aver and can be deleted, along with the directory, if you do not wish to use them.

WHY YOU SHOULD REGISTER YOUR COPY OF POSTAGE $AVER.

We make this copy of Postage $aver available to you for trial use as an inexpensive method of distribution. That lets us keep our costs low, and that in turn lets us keep our price low. If you try Postage $aver and it doesn't meet your needs, then delete it and we'll shake hands and try again when we have another product.  But if you keep it and use it, we need you to register it. If you fail to register, your software will stop functioning after 45 days from the time you first run Postage $aver on your computer.

When you register, you receive:
* barcoding software and a barcode printer font at no extra charge;
* updated files for a full year when the USPS changes sorting details or rates;
* free bug fixes for a year as necessary;
* full technical support via e-mail and telephone;
* a clear conscience.

Registration costs only $20 for the Lite version of Postage $aver, or only $45 for Postage $aver Pro (to get access to sorting routines for barcoded and weight-surcharged mail).  There are NO shipping or handling charges if you give us an e-mail address for sending update files.  We will add a $10 shipping and handling charge if you request updates via regular mail.

You can register in the following ways:

1.) To register using VISA, Master Card or Discover, go to our web site at http://savepostage.com/register.html

or 

contact: 

Northstar Solutions
FOR CREDIT CARD REGISTRATION ONLY
THIS IS AN ORDER TAKING SERVICE ONLY
DO NOT CALL NORTHSTAR FOR TECHNICAL HELP, AS THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

via e-mail: starmail@nstarsolutions.com
via fax: 785-539-3743
via phone: 800-699-6395 (NOT for technical help)
via regular mail: 1228 Westloop Pl, Suite 204, Manhattan, KS  66502

Specify the correct NorthStar stock number:
Postage $aver Pro for Windows:
     Updates via E-mail: $45 - stock# 980
     Updates via Regular Mail: $55 - stock# 982
Postage $aver Lite for Windows:
     Updates via E-mail: $45 - stock# 976
     Updates via Regular Mail: $55 - stock# 978

There is a registration form in the help file that you can print for fax or mail orders.


2.) To register by check, go to our web site at http://savepostage.com/register.html to send your check electronically, or send your check, along with a completed registration form, directly to us at:
L. Scott Hochberg Consulting Services
2111 Sheridan
Houston, TX  77030-2107

Your check should be in the amount of $20 for Postage $aver Lite or $45 for Postage $aver Pro.
If you do not have an e-mail address and we must send you updates by mail, we must add $10 for postage and handling.
(Texas residents add 8.25% sales tax to the total amount).


HOW TO CONTACT US:

For technical questions, customer service, or other support, e-mail us at:
scott@savepostage.com

phone: 713-669-9919

mail: 2111 Sheridan, Houston, TX  77030-2107
Thanks for your interest.

Scott Hochberg


 
There are a whole bunch of trademarks in this readme text, including Filemaker Pro, Q&A, Adobe, Acrobat, Mac, Windows, and Postage $aver.