Postage $aver sorts one or more data files according to U.S. postal service (USPS) requirements for third class bulk mail. Postage $aver produces a complete report showing the composition of all mail packages and mail sacks, and the piece counts and postage totals necessary for completing post office bulk mailing statements. Postage $aver can also create an output file containing sort keys by sack and package, along with postal endorsement lines for printing on address labels or envelopes.
Postage $aver's sort routine exceeds USPS requirements, to help your mail move faster, and Postage $aver calculates USPS entry discounts, so you save additional money.
Postage $aver also automatically rejects and lists any zip codes that are not in proper five-digit or nine-digit form, or which are not on the USPS chart of valid three-digit zip code areas. At the user's option, each zip code will also be checked against its state, and in many cases, its city, to insure accurate addressing.
We think you will find this to be a substantial improvement over Postage $aver for Filemaker Pro. This new version is a standalone application that runs as much as 30 times faster than the older version! Plus, there are some great new features and other improvements.
Postage $aver includes a help file 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 Postage $aver. You can find the help files by choosing Postage $aver Help from the main menu.
"POSTAGE$" DIRECTORY
The Postage$ directory contains this readme file, the P$Help.hlp file, the P$run.exe file, and the Tables directory. Do not remove any of these files or the Tables directory from the Postage directory.
RUNNING POSTAGE $AVER
To run Postage $aver, run the P$run.exe file.
TEST FILE PROVIDED:
To make it easy for you to try Postage $aver, we've included a short sample file of zip codes, cities and states. Run p$run.exe to start the application. Then select Sort One List from the Run menu, choose the sample.txt. 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.
WHAT ABOUT THE NEW POSTAL SORT REQUIREMENTS??
Effective July 1, 1996, the USPS is changing the way bulk mail is sorted. THIS VERSION OF POSTAGE $AVER IS CORRECT THROUGH JUNE 30, 1996, BUT IS NOT CORRECT FOR MAIL DEPOSITED AFTER THAT DATE. There will be an updated version of Postage $aver for Windows available in time for that deadline. The new version will include several different sorting systems, including the systems for sorting barcoded and zip+4 mail. However, unregistered users will only be able to access the basic sort routines, corresponding to the smallest postal discounts.
Users who have registered Postage $aver for Filemaker Pro since July 1, 1995, or who register this version of Postage $aver for Windows before July 1, 1996, will receive a registered upgrade free of charge. Users who registered prior to July 1, 1995 will receive an unregistered upgrade with the opportunity to register their new version at a discounted price.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1.) To have access to all features, you must enter a registration number.
2.) Mailers in Alaska and Guam must go to the "Preferences" window (under "Settings") and select "Separate home SCF..." to remove local mail from your mixed states sack.
3.) Mailers in zip codes 00401-26999 ONLY must change Postage $aver's sorting lists in order to properly prepare mail addressed to the Virgin Islands. If you are in those zip codes only, perform the following steps (You are not able to do this unless you have entered a valid registration number):
a.) Choose Edit Sorting Lists from the Sorting Lists menu.
b.) Choose 3/5 Digit Sacks.
c.) Press "next" until you see "SAN JUAN PR". (If you pass it by, press "prev" to get back to it.
d.) Press "OK" without making any changes to the label.
e.) Add a comma to the list of zip codes, followed by "008".
f.) DO NOT change the field titled "Unique City Zips".
g.) Press "OK"
h.) Press "CANCEL"
i.) Follow the same procedure for the SCF Sacks list. The label you'll be looking for is "SAN JUAN PR 006".
j.) Follow the same procedure for the State Sacks list. The label you'll be looking for is "SCF SAN JUAN PR 006". (You'll find this one more quickly using "prev" rather than "next".
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.
When you register, you receive:
* the key to unlock all features of Postage $aver;
* 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 $35! 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.) If you are a CompuServe member, GO SWREG on Compuserve to register automatically. Your registration fee will be added to your CompuServe bill. We will be notified of your registration within about 24 hours and will send you your registration number promptly.
Register using CompuServe product number 10708 to make sure we register you for the correct version of Postage $aver.
2.) To register using VISA or Master Card only, contact:
Public Software Library - FOR CREDIT CARD REGISTRATION ONLY
Product #11752
via e-mail: 71355.470@compuserve.com
via fax: 713-524-6398
via phone: 800-2424-PSL
via snailmail: Box 35705, Houston, TX 77235-5705
You can print a registration form to send them if you go to the Registration menu in Postage $aver.
Please note that Public Software Library does not know anything about Postage $aver other than how to collect credit card charges for us. Please don't trouble them with technical questions or otherwise. For anything other than credit card registration, contact us at the address list below or e-mail to 70712.1661@compuserve.com.
3.) To register by check, send it directly to us at:
L. Scott Hochberg Consulting Services
7505 Brompton
Houston, TX 77025
Your check should be in the amount of $35 for updates by e-mail, $45 for updates by USPS.
(Texas residents: $37.89 for e-mail, $48.71 for USPS).
WHAT ARE THE ENHANCEMENTS? (Postage $aver for Filemaker Pro to Postage $aver for Windows standalone application):
Speed: Since Filemaker Pro writes every change to the hard drive, it can take a very long time to sort address files. As a standalone application, Postage $aver v2.0 does its work in your computer's internal RAM memory, which works much, much faster. Also, since Filemaker Pro does not allow branching in its script, the older version must go through every potential step of the sorting process every time, while Postage $aver v2.0 only chooses those steps it needs. We sorted a 5000-address file on our 486/33 in about 3 minutes with the new version. On the old version, it took more than an hour!
Report Improvements: The report format has been "tightened" some to use less paper. It also now lists the postage rates the program used to compute postage totals, and lists a quantity for each individual sack and package. The report also now includes a list of "Rejected and Questionable Zip Codes" to help you maintain your data base.
Sorting Improved: In the older versions, pieces that logically belonged in a particular sack but which were too few to make a package were placed in the mixed states sack, according to older postal instructions. V2.0 puts these pieces in the sack where they logically belong, even if that means making a package of fewer than 10 pieces (now allowed under current postal regs.)
Accuracy checking: A neat new feature (we think) is an automatic error checking system that lets you cross-check the zip code in an address against the city and state you've entered with it. It works for all states, and for cities that use a complete three-digit zip area. You can choose to implement this feature simply by including the city and state fields (or a single field containing both) in the file you export to Postage $aver. Use the Preferences window (under Settings) to choose whether or not to delete mismatches from your bulk sort. No matter which option you choose, all mismatches will be included in the "Rejected and Questionable Zip Codes" report at the end of the Bulk Mail Sort Report.
Verify Only Option: You can check the accuracy of your data base without going through a full sort by choosing the "verify" option from the Run menu.
Compatibility with other data files: Since Postage $aver v2.0 is a standalone application not dependent on Filemaker Pro, it can be used to sort addresses kept on a wide variety of data base and mailing list programs.
Faster importing into Filemaker Pro: If you are importing sort keys or endorsement lines back into your original data file, you can do this more quickly using Postage $aver v2.0. That's because you'll use Filemaker Pro's import function, rather than doing it through a relookup. See the help topic on "Using Postage $aver with Filemaker Pro" for complete information.
LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK:
We would very much like to know what you think of our software. Write us at 70712.1661@compuserve.com. Thanks.
