ZIPCount
User’s Guide
ZIPCount Version 7.90c
November 2008
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ZIPCount User’s Guide
Contents
Preface .............................................................................................................5
Documentation .................................................................................................6
Access the latest documentation................................................................6
Install Reader .............................................................................................6
Chapter 1:
Job file parameters........................................................................................ 7
General block ...................................................................................................8
Auxiliary Files block......................................................................................10
Input File block ..............................................................................................11
Report block ...................................................................................................12
Command line options ...................................................................................14
Command line vs. job file........................................................................14
Messages during verification and processing.................................................15
Verifier messages.....................................................................................15
Correcting errors......................................................................................15
Processing messages................................................................................15
Chapter 2:
Reports ......................................................................................................... 17
Reports generated without the mpc.dir file ....................................................18
5-Digit, 3-digit, and Code........................................................................18
Reports generated with the mpc.dir and maildirect.dir files ..........................19
SCF, ADC, and BMC reports..................................................................19
State report...............................................................................................19
Contents
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ZIPCount User’s Guide
Preface
The ZIPCount Utility is designed to analyze ZIP Code list information from a
postal processing center perspective. It also organizes the ZIP Codes in a numeric
database to maximize efficiency in ZIP Code entry points.
Presort users can incorporate ZIPCount to view breakdowns of the mailing to
select SCF and BMC entry points. It is important to understand that ZIPCount
reports the number of records, not mail pieces. So, if you are using PW field
Copies, then the Processing Center Listing may be needed.
ZIPCount can produce additional savings by calculating quantities of mail pieces
for specified areas. This demonstrates how many mail pieces are needed to profit
from specialized bulk mail delivery (less the cost of extra transportation and
labor).
Preface
5
Documentation
Access the latest documentation
Release notes and other documentation are available in electronic format only
(PDF and help files).
You can access product documentation in several places:
On your computer. Release notes, manuals, and other documents for each
product that you have installed are available in the Documentation folder.
Choose Start > Programs > Business Objects applications >
Documentation.
On the Online Customer Support site. Go to http://
technicalsupport.businessobjects.com, and then click the Documentation
link. On the “Documentation” screen, choose Product Guides and navigate to
the document that you want to view. You can view the PDFs online or save
them to your computer for viewing or printing.
Install Reader To install Adobe Reader download the latest version from the Adobe website.
Conventions This document follows these conventions:
Convention Description
Bold We use bold type for file names, paths, emphasis, and text that you
should type exactly as shown. For example, “Type
cd\dirs
.”
Italics We use italics for emphasis and text for which you should substitute
your own data or values. For example, “Type a name for your file, and
the
.txt
Menu
commands
!
extension (
We indicate commands that you choose from menus in the following
format: Menu Name > Command Name. For example, “Choose File >
New.”
We use this symbol to alert you to important information and potential
problems.
We use this symbol to point out special cases that you should know
about.
We use this symbol to draw your attention to tips that may be useful to
you.
testfile
.txt
).”
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ZIPCount User’s Guide
Chapter 1:
Job file parameters
This section briefly describes each parameter within the master.zct file.
Chapter 1: Job file parameters
7
General block
BEGIN General====================================================
File Protection (OVERWRITE/PROMPT)............. =
Mail Class (FIRST/PER/STD/PSVC)................ =
Processing Category (See Note)................. =
Rate Category (See Note)....................... =
PER Authorized as a Newspaper (Y/N)............ = n
Estimated Drop Date (MMDDYYYY)................. =
Work File Directory (Location)................. =
END
File Protection (OVERWRITE/PROMPT)
Prompt pauses execution, sends a warning message, and waits for your response
during verification.
Overwrite destroys the existing output file and creates a new one. There aren’t
any warnings displayed during verification.
Mail Class (FIRST/PER/STD/PSVC)
Select the class of mailing; First Class, Periodicals, Standard Mail, Package
Services.
Processing Category
Rate Category
Type the processing category that describes the mail piece. The Processing
Category parameter is used to verify mail-piece dimensions and other entries. If
you’re not sure which category best describes the mail piece, ask your postmaster.
Automated Letter
Machinable Letter
Nonmachinable Letter
Per Nonautomation Letter
Automated Flat
Alternative Per Auto Flat
Flat
Postcard
Double Postcard
Machinable NFM
Irregular NFM
Machinable Parcel
Irregular Parcel
CMM
1C Parcel
Choose from the following rate categories:
Option Rate Class
Reg Profit All
Nonprof Nonprofit Periodicals and Standard Mail only
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ZIPCount User’s Guide
Class Classroom Periodicals only
Ag Science of agriculture Periodicals only
BPM Bound Printed Matter Package Services only
Media Media Mail Package Services only
Library Library Package Services only
Parpost Parcel Post Package Services only
PER Authorized as a Newspaper (Y/N)
Select Yes if your publication is issued weekly or more frequently. Also select
Yes if your publication was authorized for newspaper treatment prior to March 1,
1984.
Estimated Drop Date (YYYYMMDD)
Enter the estimated date and time that you plan to drop the mailing at the USPS
facility.
Work File Directory (Location)
This parameter defaults to the current directory, if left blank.
ZIPCount uses .xzt for work file extensions.
Chapter 1: Job file parameters
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Auxiliary Files block
BEGIN Auxiliary Files =========================================
Mail Proc Ctr Dir (Location & mpc08.dir)....... =
Mail Direction (Location & facility dir)....... =
Mail Direction (Location & maildirect.dir)..... =
Default ASCII FMT File (Location & <file>.fmt). =
END
Mail Proc Ctr Dir (Location & mpc08.dir)
Refer to your System Administrator’s Guide for further information on setting
PW_PATH and PATH.
Type the name and location of the Mail Processing Center Directory, for example:
DOS: \pw\dirs\mpc08.dir
UNIX: /postware/dirs/mpc08.dir
Mail Direction (Location & facility dir)
Type the location and file name of the Facility directory file, facility.dir.This
directory contains information about USPS drop ship facilities, such as drop site
keys, drop site names, and drop site delivery addresses.
Mail Direction (Location & maildirect.dir)
Type the location and file name of the Mail Direction directory file,
maildirect.dir. This directory contains information about where and when mail
pieces should be dropped in order to receive discounts on the bases of class and
shape.
Default ASCII FMT File (Location & <file>.fmt)
If all your input files are in the same format, you do not need to create separate
FMTs for each file. Create just one FMT file, and type its path and name on this
line.
If you have input files that differ from the standard format, you may create an
individual FMT for the exceptions. ZIPCount looks for an individual FMT within
the same directory and with the same base name as the input file. If one is found,
it overrides the default FMT. You can use $JOB at this parameter, which converts
to the base job file name (without a path or extension).
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ZIPCount User’s Guide
Input File block
*To specify multiple input files, the input block may be repeated.
BEGIN Input File ==============================================
Input File Name (Location & file name)......... =
Input File Type (ASCII/DBASE3)................. =
Input Filter (to 512 chars).................... =
Field to Count................................. =
END
Input File Name (Location & file name)
Remember to include the full path name if the input file is not located in the
current directory.
$JOB is accepted at this parameter. For example, $job.dbf, $job.dat or $job.txt
Input File Type (ASCII/DBASE3)
All ASCII files must have an accompanying FMT file.
All DBASE3 file field lengths and names are read from the header at the top of
the file.
Input filter (to 512 chars)
Field to Count
Use this feature to exclude records and focus your ZIPCount reports. For
example, if you want to drop-ship within a certain radius of your plant, you could
use an input filter to eliminate distant ZIP Codes.
As in our other programs, ZIPCount processes only those records that result in
TRUE when the filter expressing is evaluated.
$JOB is accepted at this parameter. For an example, refer back to the code report
on page 18. If you routinely want a report based on the exp_date field, you could
create a job file called exp_date.zct and enter the $job at this parameter.
ZIPCount then looks for the exp_date field. The Code Report reads the entire
field defined.
ZIPCount does not read the DEF file. It simply relies on the FMT or
header to find the field to count.
Chapter 1: Job file parameters
11
Report block
*To generate multiple reports, the report block may be repeated.
BEGIN Report ==================================================
Location and File Name/Printer Device.......... =
Existing File (APPEND/REPLACE)................. =
Page Header Line 1 (to 80 chars)............... =
Page Header Line 2 (to 80 chars)............... =
Page Header Line 3 (to 80 chars)............... =
Page Header Line 4 (to 80 chars)............... =
Page Length (40-100 lines)..................... =
Page Width (60-250 chars)...................... =
Format of Output (DATA FILE/REPORT)............ =
Type of Count (3DG/5DG/STATE/ADC/SCF/BMC/CODE). =
Sort by (QUANTITY/VALUE/DEST ZIP).............. =
Display Record Number Column (Y/N)............. =
Minimum Quantity for Reporting................. =
Palletized Mail (Y/N).......................... =
END
* NOTE Sort By Options
* QUANTITY - for use with all types of counts
* VALUE - for use with all types of counts
* DEST ZIP - for use with SCF and BMC counts
Location and File Name Printer Device
Print to an output file or to a printer port by specifying the file name or printer
option.
$JOB is accepted at this parameter, for example, $job.rpt.
Existing File (APPEND/REPLACE)
Append attaches the current report to the existing file.
Replace overwrites the last report. This choice saves file space.
Page Header Line 1-4 (up to 80 chars)
This is only for report style.
$DATE and $TIME are only accepted in the Page Header Lines. Use these
commands when generating multiple reports.
$JOB is accepted to include the job name in the report header, for example $job.
Four blank lines are included in the report, if you don’t type anything in these
lines.
Page length (40-100 lines)
You must specify the length. If the format of the output is set to data file, the page
length is ignored because the data file does not have headers, footers or form
feeds.
Page Width (60-250 chars)
You must specify the width. The default data file width is 66 characters. Increase
this number to 88 if you print in 8 lines per inch.
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ZIPCount User’s Guide
Format of Output (DATA FILE/REPORT)
The data file only prints one column per page, without any form feeds, headers or
footers. This format is easy to import into a spreadsheet.
The report is printed with as many columns that will fit on the page, with form
feeds, headers and footers. ZIPCount automatically calculates and prints the
amount of columns that fit on the page according to the page width specified. You
can specify four additional header lines.
Type of Count (3DG/5DG/STATE/SCF/ADC/BMC/CODE)
Choose the type of report you want to have.
Sort by (QUANTITY/VALUE/DEST ZIP)
Tells ZIPCount how you’d like your reports sorted.
Value Description
Quantity Tells ZipCount to sort the report from maximum to minimum
count. Use this option when you want to initially browse
through the report to see the ZIP Codes or facilities that have
the largest number of records.
Value Tells ZipCount to sort according to a value in the input file
(for example, pieces or copies).
Dest ZIP Tells ZipCount to sort by destination ZIP Codes taken from
Display Record Number Column (Y/N)
Type Y when producing the 3DG or 5DG reports.
Minimum Quantity for Reporting
This parameter defaults to 1. For example, if you have a standard mailing which
needs at least 10,000 pieces to profit from periodical rate privileges, suppress
those records to 9,999 and less by choosing 10,000 as a minimum.
Palletized Mail (Y/N)
Outputs a list of facilities that accept pallets or sacks/trays.
The values you can use for this parameter include the following:
Value Description
Yes This option generates a list with the following information:
the mail direction directories.
Facilities that accept pallets.
Redirection facilities for pallets.
No This option generates a list with the following information:
Facilities that accept non-palletized mail.
Redirection facilities for non-palletized mail.
Chapter 1: Job file parameters
13
Command line options
You can run ZIPCount quickly by adding options to your command line. For a list
of options, type the zipcount and press the Enter key.
Command line vs. job file
The job file is more flexible, but takes a little more setup time than using the
command line. Here are some reasons to use the job file instead of the command
line options:
Creates multiple reports in one pass.
Uses multiple input files of mixed file types (ASCII and DBASE3).
Uses multiple input files with different field names.
Prints page headers (command line displays four blank lines).
Suppresses prompt suppressed for overwrite.
Specifies work file location (default is current directory).
Uses the default FMT file.
Changes page size.
Displays record number columns.
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ZIPCount User’s Guide
Messages during verification and processing
Verifier messages The ZIPCount job-file verifier is a part of the ZIPCount utility, job-file error
messages display discrete line numbers which associate the error messages to
specific blocks. It also checks for mistakes and omissions, such as:
The mail direction, facility direction, or mpc08 directory file was not found
Input file is defined as fixed-length ASCII, but FMT file cannot be found.
Entry at the File Protection parameter is not among the options available.
The field “zip_code” was not found in the input file.
Correcting errors The verifier identifies more than one error and tells you where they are located.
To correct the errors, open the job file, or change the command line accordingly,
then run ZIPCount again. Keep up this cycle until your job makes it all the way
through the verification process without errors.
Processing messages ZIPCount reports progress by printing messages on your screen. The processing
messages refer to tasks that ZIPCount performs: verification, reading input
records, sorting the work file and generating reports. ZIPCount reports progress
percentages when reading the input records. When all the processing is finished,
the last message is:
Job file
Command line for DOS
Processing completed.
You may want to put processing messages in a file for later reference. To do so,
change your execution lines to look similar to these examples:
zipcount job1zct > messagefile.log
If the job does not verify, error messages are printed on the screen (not in the
message file).
zipcount /r /t5dg/fzip_code/iinputfile.dat /o5dg.rpt >
messagefile.log
This is called redirecting the standard output to a file.
Chapter 1: Job file parameters
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ZIPCount User’s Guide
Chapter 2:
Reports
This section describes reports generated with and without the MPC and Mail
Direction directory.
Chapter 2: Reports
17
Reports generated without the mpc.dir file
5-Digit, 3-digit, and
The following is an example of the 5-digit report.
Code
ZIP Count ZIP Count ZIP Count ZIP Count
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ---- 43040 54 10292 1 60004 1 90027 1
60010 28 32513 1 60005 1 97525 1
60014 28 54602 1 ---- Total 117
Records Filtered out on Input 0
Undetermined ZIP Codes 27
Records below the Minimum Qty (0) 0
Counted Records 117
------- Total Records 144
Entire fields specified are extracted and sorted (not parts of a field) .You can
generate code reports based on any field. It compares all characters in the field
when specifying the FMT field (ASCII) or within the database (DBASE3).
There are some metrics listed at the end each report. The following table
descriptions this information.
Information provided Report Description
Records Filtered out on Input 5-Digit, 3-digit and Code When you filter records on input, the report lists the num-
ber of records excluded from processing because they did
not pass the input filter.
Blank Code Fields Code The Blank Code Fields indicates the number of records
checked without any information in the field specified.
This count is different from the Undetermined ZIP Codes
count because it only counts fields that are completely
blank, whereas the Undetermined ZIP Codes field counts
full field with non-numeric characters in the first five digits.
Undetermined ZIP Codes 5-Digit, 3-digit and Code These ZIP Codes have a non-numeric character in the first
five characters. Blank fields are counted, but not displayed
in the record.
Records below the Minimum Qty 5-Digit, 3-digit and Code Iindicate the minimum quantity declared to process ZIP-
Count data.
Counted Records 5-Digit, 3-digit and Code Lists the number of records included in processing
because they passed the input filter.
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ZIPCount User’s Guide
Reports generated with the mpc.dir and maildirect.dir files
SCF, ADC, and BMC reports
State report The State report looks up information in the mpc.dir file. ZipCount then generates
The SCF, ADC, and BMC reports look up information in the maildirect.dir file
for each unique 3digit ZIP Code.
a report containing the center name, canter code, or State, and the number of ZIP
Codes that belong to that center or state.
ZIPCount includes the 50 usual states plus eight USPS “state” codes:
AA American Atlantic
AE American European
AP American Pacific
AS American Samoa
FM Federated Micronesia
GU Guam
PR Puerto Rico
VI Virgin Islands
The ZIP Codes Not Associated with an SCF, ADC, BMC or State Report field
displays the number of ZIP Codes that occur when the ZIP Codes read are
associated with a military organization or are unused or inactive.
Chapter 2: Reports
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