January, 2000.

Welcome to Secret Barcoder Ring v2.0 for Windows!

(IF YOU ARE READING THIS WITH NOTEPAD, SET EDIT/WORD WRAP TO "ON".)

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NOW, Postal Bulk Mail Made Easy - Postage $aver sorts your mailing list for bulk mail, and prints barcoded tray tags automatically. Buy Postage $aver Pro for just $45 and receive a registered copy of Secret Barcoder Ring free! See our web site at savepostage.com.
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WHAT DOES SECRET BARCODER RING DO??

Secret Barcoder Ring performs various tasks necessary to meet United State Postal Service (USPS) barcoding requirements. These tasks are:

	 * creating and printing delivery-point barcodes on envelopes, one at a time;

	 * creating delivery-point barcodes for an entire mailing list, which can be printed using a postnet barcode font (which is included at no extra charge with registered copies of Secret Barcoder Ring);

	 * printing barcoded tags for mail trays and mail sacks, as are required for various classes of presorted (bulk) mail.


WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THE TRIAL VERSION?

The trial version of Secret Barcoder Ring has all the features of the registered version, except that it will stop operating after 45 days. It can be converted into a registered version simply by entering a correct registration code. Each registered user also receives a copy of our barcode font for their printer at no extra charge (a $10 value if purchased separately.)


WHAT DO I NEED??

To create barcoded tray and sack tags, you need nothing more than the destination for each tag, and standard Avery business card sheets on which to print the tags.

To create address (delivery-point) barcodes one at a time, you just need the complete address information or the delivery-point and zip code.

To add barcodes to your mailing list, you need a mailing list that is kept in a database file (like Access, Act!,  dBase, Filemaker Pro, etc.) rather than a word processing file (like Wordperfect, Word, Write, etc.). The Help file that is included with Secret Barcoder Ring has detailed, step-by-step instructions for using the software with many different database programs. Your mailing list must contain accurate 9-digit zip codes. 5-digit zip codes are not sufficient for creating barcodes. If you need 9-digit zip codes, see the Help file topic "How to get CASS-certified zip+4 codes". 


I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS.

Secret Barcoder Ring includes a HELP file that explains the operation of the program.  It's a fast read, so we suggest you go through the help system before you try to run Secret Barcoder Ring. You can find the help files by choosing Help from the main menu.


RUNNING SECRET BARCODER RING

To run Secret Barcoder Ring, run the SBR.exe file, or choose Secret Barcoder Ring from the programs section of your start menu.

You can see how Secret Barcoder Ring works by trying a couple of functions. To see an example of creating barcodes for envelopes, go to "Barcodes for Envelopes" on the main menu and click "One barcode at a time". You can then enter an address and 9-digit zip code and watch Secret Barcoder Ring create the corresponding barcode. You can print this barcode in the correct location on an envelope or card by click "print". (You may have to change the settings for your printer to Maximum Print Area to get it to print close enough to the edge of the envelope.)

To see an example of creating barcoded tray or sack tags, go to "Barcoded Tray/Sack Tags" on the main menu and click "Create and Print Tags". Then, choose the class and type of mail you are using, and enter your origin line (the bottom line on the tag) where shown.  Click next, and enter destination and content information for up to 10 tags.  Then print on any standard 8 1/2 x 11 sheet. If you use Avery business card sheets (#5371, #8371 or similar), the printout for tray tags will line up with the perforations so you can just tear each label off. (Sack tags require additional trimming.)

To see an example of adding barcodes to a file, go to "Barcodes for Envelopes" on the main menu and click on "Add barcodes to a file". Leave the settings on the next screen as they are and click Next. The next screen lets you choose a file.  Choose the one called "sample" or "sample.txt". On the following screen, you'll see some data from the sample file.  Note that the "Barcode Field" box is empty, as there are no barcodes in the file. Without changing any settings, click Finish. Secret Barcoder Ring will go through the file and add barcodes. 

When it tells you that it has finished, you can view the modified file by following the same steps again.  Choose the same file and then look at the data. This time, you should see a sequence of numbers, like /746542335123/ in the "Barcode Field" box.  This is a the barcode that corresponds to the first address in the file. If this was your data file, instead of the sample, you could print this field using a barcode font to make it look like a barcode instead of looking like a string of digits. (See "What are delivery-point barcodes" in the Help file for further details.)


HOW TO REGISTER YOUR COPY OF SECRET BARCODER RING.

We make this copy of Secret Barcoder Ring 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 Secret Barcoder Ring 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, you will need to register it.

When you register, you receive:
* a free barcode font so you can print barcodes from your database file
(a $10 value);
* free updates for a year;
* full technical support via e-mail and telephone.

Registration costs only $25! There are NO shipping or handling charges if we can deliver the software and updates via the Internet (Your e-mail address is required.)  We will add a $5 shipping and handling charge if you request delivery via regular mail.

You can register in the following ways:

1.) To register on the web using VISA, Master Card, American Express, Discover or by debit to your checking account, go to our web site at savepostage.com/register.html.

2.) To register by phone using VISA, Master Card, American Express or Discover, call NorthStar Solutions at 800-699-6395, 10am-8pm (EST) Mon-Sat.

Please note that NorthStar Solutions does not know anything about Secret Barcoder Ring other than how to collect credit card charges for us. Please don't trouble them with technical or other questions. 

For tech support and customer service, please call 713-669-9919 or e-mail us at scott@savepostage.com.

3.) To register by check, print the Registration Form on the next page and send it with your payment to:

L. Scott Hochberg Consulting Services
2111 Sheridan
Houston, TX 77030-2107

Your check should be in the amount of $25. 
Add $5 for shipment of your software and updates via regular mail, only if you cannot receive delivery via the Internet.
(Texas residents add 8.25% sales tax to the total amount.)


HOW TO CONTACT US:

To Place and Order By Phone: 800-699-6395
This is an order service only. There is no technical support at this number.

All Other Inquiries:

Via E-Mail: scott@savepostage.com

By Phone: 713-669-9919.

By Fax: 810-222-7652.

By Mail: 2111 Sheridan, Houston, TX 77030-2107


LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK:

We would very much like to know what you think of our software. Write us at scott@savepostage.com.  Thanks.

Scott Hochberg