Create the IMpb and Shipping Services File (SSF) for Parcel Mailings

Effective January 26, 2014, all commercial packages must include:

A unique Intelligent Mail® Package Barcode (IMpb^®)*
Submission of electronic Shipping Services File v. 1.6 or higher** for each mailing.

The instructions below will guide you through successfully printing or exporting the Intelligent Mail Package Barcode, creating the Shipping Services File that needs to be electronically submitted to the USPS, and information on how to submit the Shipping Services File.

To successfully print the Intelligent Mail Package Barcode, you need to enter your Mailer ID into the IMpb section of the Intelligent Mail Setup window, and select a service type.

AccuZIP6 Mailing Software is certified by the USPS for the Intelligent Mail Package Barcode (IMPB) and Intelligent Mail Matrix Barcode (IMmb). Be assured that all shipping labels generated with AccuZIP6 are secure, accurate, and trackable according to USPS rules and requirements.

Section 1: Choose your IMpb Service Type in the Intelligent Mail Setup window

Launch AccuZIP6.

With or without a database open, pull down Additions to AccuTrace > Intelligent Mail Setup.

Scroll down to the IMpb section.

Enter your IMpb-specific Mailer ID, which should be different than the Mailer ID that you use for letters and flats (see the recommendation below)

Note: We recommend you choose a Mailer ID that will be used specifically for IMpb creation. Here's how you do it. Visit the Business Customer Gateway at www.gateway.usps.com In Favorites, click on Mailer ID If you have only one Mailer ID (MID), click on the hamburger icon in the upper left corner (the three vertical lines) Choose Request MID. Once you get a MID, or if you already have an additional MID you're not using in AccuZIP6, then hover over the Options button below your Mailer ID, and choose Update Program Options Check the box labeled Confirmation Services for Package Service Products and Extra Services, then click Save Enter this Mailer ID into the IMpb area of the IM Barcode Settings screen

Note: We recommend you choose a Mailer ID that will be used specifically for IMpb creation. Here's how you do it.

Visit the Business Customer Gateway at www.gateway.usps.com
In Favorites, click on Mailer ID
If you have only one Mailer ID (MID), click on the hamburger icon in the upper left corner (the three vertical lines)
Choose Request MID. Once you get a MID, or if you already have an additional MID you're not using in AccuZIP6, then hover over the Options button below your Mailer ID, and choose Update Program Options
Check the box labeled Confirmation Services for Package Service Products and Extra Services, then click Save
Enter this Mailer ID into the IMpb area of the IM Barcode Settings screen

Enter IMpb-specific Mailer ID into Intelligent Mail Information Setup window

Double-click on Service type.

For Marketing Mail, choose 704=USPS Marketing Mail Parcels
For First Class Mail, choose 001=First-Class Mail Parcel

Click OK, then click Yes to save the changes.

Section 2: Presort your database

If you have validated your list already, then pull down the Sort menu to Presort Mail.

Make sure your presort settings are correct, then click Presort.

In Print Presort, click on Print Reports.

Check the Mailing Statement box. Uncheck the box beneath it. Click Continue.

In Mailing Statement Setup, create a new setting and name it IMpb Certification.

Copy the Mailer ID and CRID information that is in the middle (mailing agent) column and paste that information into the first column (permit holder) and third column (Organization for which mailing is prepared)

Save the setting, then click Continue.

In Print Presort, click on Print Labels.

If you're printing your addresses and barcodes directly out of AccuZIP6 and for the purpose of certifying the IMpb, read Section 3.
If you're exporting your presorted data out of AccuZIP6, skip to Section 4.

Section 3: Select your Label Template

From the Template pull-down menu in Print Settings, select the 5164 Impb With Gs1.lbx template.

Check the Print Barcode box.

Check the Intelligent Mail box.

Skip to Section 7, below.

Section 4: Export the Intelligent Mail Package Barcode

From the Print Settings window, make sure the Output pull down menu is on Disk File, then click Continue.

In the Export Setup window, select your export map or choose the fields you'd like to export.

To Export the barcode, create a new line that is at least 60-characters wide. In the name column, type: IMpb. In the expression box, use this expression:

oPrintBc.Codeimb128c(impb_,0,1)

To export the human-readable string below that, create a new line that is at least 60-characters wide. In the Name column, type hr_impb or give it whatever name you'd like (up to 10 characters) and enter this expression into that row's expression box:

oPrintBc.CalcMod10(impb_,1)

oPrintBc.CalcMod10(impb_,1)

Re-save your export map. Choose your export format, and you're ready to export.

For the export format, do not choose CSV. The data resulting in the export of the impb might contain commas, and this will force the barcode to be split into multiple fields. Export this file as tab delimited text or another format other than csv.

Using these two expressions, you'll get the IMpb and the IMpb Human Readable Line. The barcode will look like this in a resulting text file:

ÍÊJ)""Ê}Â,!*zÂÂE(ÂUHSÎ

When assigning a font to the IMPB, use IDAutomationC128L, Regular, Size 15.

If you're exporting the IMpb, refer to the USPS Intelligent Mail Package Barcode specifications for generating the IMpb.

https://postalpro.usps.com/shipping/impb/BarcodePackageIMSpec

Section 5: Electronically submit the Shipping Services File (SSF)

When you click Print or Continue from the Print Settings window, a file with a .manifest extension will be created in your presort folder (more on this, below). This is your Shipping Services File (SSF version 1.7) that needs to be submitted electronically to the USPS through the Parcel Data Exchange (PDX) service. You can quickly access your presort folder from the Print Presort window by clicking on the Presort Path link.