Yes, but you have to do it manually. I don't think there's a way to do this
through the Tools | Envelopes and Labels dialog, so it requires setting up
an envelope template. You'll have to decide for yourself whether this is
worth the trouble, keeping in mind that (a) the USPS is perfectly happy with
a bar code above the address, and (b) even if you print a bar code at the
bottom of the envelope, the USPS scanning equipment will probably print
another one anyway.
That said, here's how I do it:
1. Create an envelope template: File | New: Template. You might as well
start with a Blank Document unless you already have an envelope-sized
template. Once the new template is open, change the paper size to #10
envelope, COM 10, or however your printer driver describes that size. Save
the template.
2. Change the margins to something reasonable for envelopes. If you want to
see what margins Word uses, open a blank document, go to Tools | Envelopes
and Labels, and click "Add to Document," which will give you an envelope to
examine. For most printers you probably need at least 3/8" Top and Left (the
bottom and right margins are less critical.
3. With your insertion point in the default paragraph, change the style to
Envelope Return. Type your return address.
4. Press Enter at the end of the return address and change the style to
Envelope Address. This will insert an address frame.
5. Here is where I cannot get a new document to behave the way my existing
ones do. You have to bookmark the address. Somehow in my existing templates
I have managed to bookmark the paragraph mark so that I can have an empty
paragraph bookmarked; in a new document, this doesn't work (if I remove the
bookmarked text except for the paragraph, the bookmark is deleted). So I
guess you'll have to type a space, select it, and Insert | Bookmark. Call
the bookmark Address.
6. With the insertion point in that paragraph, Insert | Frame (since you
likely don't have this option on the Insert menu, use the button on the
Forms toolbar). Draw a frame at the bottom of the envelope where you want
the bar code. You can fine-tune its position later using Format Frame.
7. In the frame, Insert | Field: Barcode. Check the box for "POSTNET bar
code" and select the Address bookmark, then OK (these instructions are for
Word 2002; in an earlier version, you may need to select the \b switch
and/or type in the bookmark name). This inserts your bar code field, but it
will say "Zip code not valid!" until you type an address that includes a ZIP
code.
8. You can modify the Envelope Return and Envelope Address styles to suit
you (including moving and sizing the frame of the Envelope Address style)
and otherwise customize the look of your envelope. Then save the template.
9. To use the template, select it in File New and type your address in place
of the space in the Envelope Address frame. The bar code will be created
automatically.
If you want to use the envelope for a mail merge, you create the bar code a
little differently, using the \u ("Literal Text") switch and selecting the
merge field that contains your ZIP code.
--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site:
http://www.mvps.org/word
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