Machine-readable franking marks

Section 8: Premiumadress
Design, options and contents

Released
Version 1.1.6
March 21, 2023

File name:

MLFVM_8_Premiumadress_1.1.5.docx

Machine-readable franking marks
Section 8: Premiumadress

Contents
Section 8: Premiumadress

3

8.1.

Introduction/background

3

8.2.

The validity of the PREMIUMADRESS data matrix code

3

8.3.

Demarcation from the arrangements for the “machine processing of letter
mail items”

3

8.4.

Certification of items corresponding to this specification

4

8.5.

Design and text elements

5

8.6.

Dimensions diagram

78.6.1.

Layout of address windows with a 26x26 data matrix code (reduced)

8

8.6.2.

Layout of address windows with a 22x22 data matrix code (reduced)

9

8.6.3.

Tolerances

98.7.

Contents of the data matrix code

98.7.1.

Example of byte sequence in data matrix code

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Section 8: Premiumadress
8.1. Introduction/background

This document refers only to the design of a data matrix for the PREMIUMADRESS
service, when the item is additionally franked by a different type of franking, which
relates to the charge for the item. The franking mark described here does not represent
any franking value and can make it possible to transfer PREMIUMADRESS data andutilize TRACK&MATCH for DIALOGPOST and POSTWURFSPEZIAL items. Frankingtypes with a value may therefore be Dialogpost with franking wave, sender machine
franking, cancelling by sender, Plusbrief or business post of Deutsche Post (Postsache). For Dialogpost, this layout is seen as a reduced franking mark and it may also beused without franking wave if desired.
Thus these franking types will also benefit from the advantages of so-called machinereadable data matrix codes. The use of the data matrix code is a condition for using
the PREMIUMADRESS service. This matrix code also offers customers the opportunity to improve and optimize production processes, e.g., quality assurance, controlof supplements. It may also be used for DIALOGPOST and POSTWURFSPEZIAL
items that are not PREMIUMADRESS items (e.g., for TRACK&MATCH).

8.2. The validity of the PREMIUMADRESS data matrix code

The Premiumadress data matrix code applies, according to the status of the specification, until the appearance of a successor version of the Premiumadress data matrix
code. The internal working title is Machine-readable franking marks Section 8 Premiumadress (MLFVM 8).
8.3. Demarcation from the arrangements for the suitability for automatic processing
All existing arrangements for the machine processing of letter mail items retain theirvalidity and are described in the guide on mail items suitable for automated processing.
For example, inserting other barcodes used by the customer in the address is also
covered here. Inserting additional barcodes must be avoided as a matter of principle.
If a barcode used by a customer is printed as an exceptional case, then care must be
taken that its design and dimensions are not similar to those of Deutsche Post AG.

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8.4. Certification of items corresponding to this specification
Deutsche Post AG offers certification for quality assurance purposes. Samples are required (S/KBf-compact letter and card forms: 100 items, card format: 250 items, G/MBfMaxibrief letter and press: 10 items) and evaluated as follows:
1. Correct content of the data matrix code (field population and parameterization)
2. Alignment and legibility of the elements on the address page:a. correct dimensions and legibility of the address
b. correct dimensions and legibility of the data matrix codec. compliance with the required spacing
Senders interested in certification may contact the sales representative at Deutsche
Post.

Thequalityoftheprinteddatamatrix
codeshouldbe“Grade A”, following the quality parameters specified in the ISO/IEC 15415
standard. In the case of deviations from this, Deutsche Post must be allowed toperform a practical test to check whether the minimum quality requirements aremet.

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8.5. Design and text elements

The franking mark consists of the following parts:••••

Info line for use by sender•

Premiumadress IDENTIFIERA Premiumadress item must be designated by a capital P (Arial; font height
5.9 mm). For non-Premiumadress items, the P must not be used.

•Data matrix code
In the 8-bit binary mode (BASE 256), size 22x22 or 26x26 modules (28 or 42bytes) with a module strength of 0.423 mm. ECC 200 is intended as the error
correction level.

•Deutsche Post logo
The identifying features consist of the letters Deutsche Post and the post horn.
The entire logo must be incorporated as a graphic, including the lettering. This
is why no font type is defined for the lettering. The graphic is available fordownloading on the Premiumadress downloads page of the Deutsche Postwebsite.

•Sender line
The sender information should always have a smaller capital letter height thanthe address.

•Extra line
If the item is a Dialogpost item, it will be designated as “Dialogpost”.

•Info line
In the final line, within the addition and mark zone for postal marks, additional
details necessary for processing may be provided. These must then be placed
between the special character “*”. The characters may also be used as field
separators. Additional details which are possible are in particular the identification of routing region bundles for Dialogpost and if required, customer-specificnumbering (e.g., for subsequent manual processing). Blank fields are indicated with the limiting “*”, e.g., **123456789*. The line must end at least 3 mm

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before the left edge of the data matrix code. The base line is identical with thebottom edge of the data matrix code. If more than one information line isneeded, it can be printed there in place of address line 1. The number of address lines remains five.
•Address lines
The only font types that may be used are those that are machine-readable according to the guide on mail items suitable for automatic processing. We recommend Arial, Helvetica, Frutiger and Univers. The capital letter height mustbe at least 2.3 mm.

•Address field
DIN 5008:2020 provides the authoritative rules for the layout of the address
field and the five-lined additional and marking zones.
For the intended address field, (address lines 1-6; 21.17 mm in height) alreadycertified fonts may also be used. Here it is important that all the components(address, Dialogpost line…) must remain visible in the legible area (net window).
In the case of non-standard windows (larger than 90 x 45 mm), labels and direct printing, there may be the possibility of greater choice in font types andsizes and the number of the address lines.

All these individual characteristics are part of MLFMV 8 PREMIUMADRESS.
It is a matter of principle that all the elements which must be machine-readable are set
out in the readable area under any circumstances (even if the item moves in the envelope). This includes especially the matrix code and all address lines. The legible area
is also limited to 3 mm by a quiet zone round its outside.
For Dialogpost, this layout applies as a reduced franking mark and can also be usedwithout the franking wave on the envelope or address label if desired. The franking
zone must always be kept free, i.e., no other impressions must be applied there, withone exception. According to the guide on mail items suitable for automatic processing,a graphic design in the franking zone and alphanumeric information in reverse print arepermitted if the franking mark is placed in the address field.

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8.6. Dimensions diagram
Printers with a resolution of 240 dpi or 300 dpi and their multiples as whole numbers,e.g. 480 dpi or 600 dpi are supported. The dimension details of the text elements correspond to those of the 240 dpi printer.
Differing resolutions must be checked in the certification process.
Irrespective of the resolution, the data matrix must be given a module width of 0.423mm.
The overall positioning of the address, including the postal details is given for A4 mailin a C5/C6 envelope. The address window and the entire dimensions remain precisely the same for other envelopes and paper formats. Only the positioning of theentire window changes so that the abovementioned principles for legibility in the window are maintained as far as possible, even though the mail document has been
moved around. The font for the address must not be reduced under any circumstances.
The entire address is set out in such a way that the left edge of an A4 letter with text
and folds, whether in form A or B, is at least 25 mm from the left edge of the page.
The sender information should always have a smaller capital letter height than theaddress. The only font types that may be used are those that are machine-readable
according to the guide on mail items suitable for automatic processing. We recommend Arial, Helvetica, Frutiger and Univers.

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8.6.1.

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Layout of address windows with a 26x26 data matrix code (reduced)

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8.6.2.

Layout of address windows with a 22x22 data matrix code (reduced)

8.6.3.

Tolerances

Tolerances are possible with the above-mentioned dimensions.
The post horn, “Deutsche Post” lettering, the “P” and the franking mark may each be
0.15 mm larger or smaller and the DMC may be 0.5 mm larger or smaller than indicatedin the dimensions diagrams.
The spaces between the individual features may each be 0.5 mm larger or smaller thanindicated in the dimensions diagrams.
Differing tolerances must be checked in the certification process.
8.7. Contents of the data matrix code
A matrix code of the data matrix type in 8-bit binary mode is used (BASE 256). ECC
200 is intended as the error correction level. The symbol size of the matrix code
(number of lines and columns) for the standard option is 22 x 22 modules (L*W =9.31mm * 9.31 mm), and for the larger option it is 26 x 26 modules (L*W = 11.0 mm *11.0 mm).
For Premiumadress, the larger option is recommended.

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Please see the following table for information on nomenclature:
Hexadecimal values with high commas are included, e.g. ’3F’. For better legibility,
these values are represented in pairs separated by a space, e.g. ’00 37’.
Byte

LengthMeaning3

Postal company

Data contents

Comments

No.

f1, f2,f3

Byte'44 45 41'(ASCII DEA)

Deutsche Post

(Hex)

LengthMeaning

Data contents

1Franking type‘08’and version(Hex)

Comments

No.

f4

Byte

LengthMeaning

PREMIUMADRESS, Version 1.1.6

Data contents

Comments

No.

f51Version‘XX‘

products/prices

The version of the product and pricelist must be mentioned here. Example: Version No. 50 corresponds tohexadecimal value ’32’.
The most current version can befound online at www.premiumadress.de.

Byte

LengthMeaning

5Customer number ofData contents

Comments

No.

f6 tof10

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the PREMI-‘XX XX XX XX XX Example: EKP no. 5111111111‘(decimal) equals ‘01 30 A5 5D C7'

UMADRESS contract(hexadecimal). The customer is no-partner.

tified by Deutsche Post.

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Byte

LengthMeaning

2Charge or franking

Data contents

Comments

No.

f11,
f12

'XX XX'

value

Decimal presentation of the franking
value in eurosin the format(E=places before decimal point andEEECC

C=places after decimal point).

(decimal)Example: EUR 0.85:
decimal: 00085; hexadecimal:‘00 55'
When franked with a stamp, senderfranking machine, as Plusbrief andas business post of Deutsche Post(Postsache), this must be entered as‘00 00’

Byte No.

f13,

Length2

f14

Meaning

Date of posting or

Data contents'XX XX'

data processing dateComments

If at the time of optimization the actual date of posting is not known, thein the format

date of data processing should beDDDYY

used.

(decimal)Date format: Decimal representationof the date as DDDYY whereby“DDD” represents the relevant day ofthe year (up to 365 or 366) and “YY”
is the last two digits representing theyear.
(Example: July 24, 2003, i.e. 205th
day in 2003; decimal: 20503; hexadecimal: ‘50 17')

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Byte

LengthMeaning2

Product identifier

Data contents

Comments

No.

f15,
f16

'XX XX'

code

Representation in hexadecimal form
The up-to-date description of theproduct identifier code is containedin the product and price list. The current product and price list is available on request.
Example of product identifier code:’00 5A’ Dialogpost/Katalog Standard(dec. 90)’23 E7’ Dialogpost/Katalog Standard
Premiumadress Basis (dec. 9191)
Representation in hexadecimal form.
The most current description of theproduct identifier codes is available
on request, or at www.premiumadress.de.

Byte

LengthMeaning

Data contents

Comments

3

Serial item number‘XX XX XX‘

Hexadecimal representation of theNo.

f17,
f18,

decimal item number (max.

f1916,777,215 items).
When AM order numbers are used,for every AM order number beginning with 1.
Otherwise for every posting or dataprocessing date, beginning with 1.

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Byte

LengthMeaning

Data contents

Comments

4

AM order number‘XX XX XX

Hexadecimal representation of theNo.

f20 toXX‘

f23

decimal AM order number.
Should alphanumerical AM ordernumbers be used, only the numericalpart must be coded.
If AM order numbers are not used,‘00 00 00 00’ must be entered in thisfield.
Please note that theoretical size limitation for numerical numbers from:(FF FF FF FF Hex) = 4294967295
From the 14-digit AM order number, the lower 9 digits are usedhere (decimal to 999 999 999 –Hex 3B 9A C9 FF).

Byte

LengthMeaning1

Notification of postal

Data contents

Comments

No.

f24

'XX'

Since bytes f25 to f26 may be useddata elements be-flexibly for postal purposes and are

tween bytes f25 andalso wholly or partially available forf42

customer-specific data, it is indicatedhere what dimensions the postal
data elements have (see below) inthis area, and which type the postal
data elements are.
'00'

In the area of bytes f25 to f26, nopostal contents are to be named.
The entire area may be used only forcustomer-specific data not evaluatedby Deutsche Post. The bytes are tobe filled in as necessary.

'01'

Bytes f25 to f26 are used for thePREMIUMADRESS ID, see below.
The following bytes f27 to f28 (f42)
may be used for customer-specificdata and if necessary must be filled

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up. The product identifier coded as
f15,f16 must refer to a PREMIUMADRESS product, and the “P”
must be printed in the layout.
This customer-specific data of thematrix code is recorded as part of
PREMIUMADRESS and provided forthe sender as additional informationin the address dataset (e.g. customer number, recipient).
’02’

Bytes f25 to f26 are used for thePREMIUMADRESS ID, see below.
The following bytes f27 to f28 (f42)
may be used for data that is customer-specific not evaluated by theDeutsche Post and must be filled inas necessary. The product identifiercoded as f15,f16 must refer to a
PREMIUMADRESS product, and the“P” must be printed in the layout.
Please note: In this case Deutsche
Post does not return the customerspecific data in the PREMIUMADRESS address dataset.

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Byte

LengthMeaning

2

PREMIUMADRESS

Data contents

Comments

No.

f25,
f26

'XX XX'ID

Hexadecimal representation of thedecimal PREMIUMADRESS ID.
It must be entered if the control element byte f24 is filled with the data
contents “01” or “02”.
The PREMIUMADRESS IDs are created by the customer online in thePREMIUMADRESS system and assist with the subdivision of the address data which PREMIUMADRESS supplies to the customer. If the customer does not create any additional IDs in the systemand only uses one PREMIUMADRESS ID, then it always is ‘0001’.

Byte No.

LengthMeaningWith

2

Customer-specificData contents

Comments'XX XX XX XX' Any content which is not evaluated

PREMI-information (inby Deutsche Post e.g., to identify

UMADR

22*22 matrix code

customers, departments, pallets etc.

ESSsize)

f27 to 28

When PREMIUMADRESS is used,the customer-specific part begins

WithoutPREMI-from byte f27, since bytes f25 and4

f26 in this case are used for thePREMIUMADRESS ID.

UMADRESS
f25 to f28

If no customer-specific information isto be placed in the matrix code, thenin order to comply with the size ofthe matrix code, it may be necessary
to fill it with blank information.

Byte No.

LengthMeaning

Data contents

With16

Customer-specific‘XX XX XX XX Any content which is not evaluated

information (inXX XX XX XXby Deutsche Post e.g., to identify

XX XX XX XX

customers, departments, pallets etc.

PREMIUMADR

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ESS

26*26 matrix code

f27 to f42size)

XX XX XX XX

When PREMIUMADRESS is used,

XX XX'

the customer-specific part begins
from byte f27, since bytes f25 andWithout

18

PREMI-

f26 in this case are used for thePREMIUMADRESS ID.

UMADRESS

If no customer-specific information is

f25 to f42

to be placed in the matrix code, thenin order to comply with the size ofthe matrix code, it is necessary to fill
it with blank information.

8.7.1.

Example of byte sequence in data matrix code

Below, an example is provided of the byte sequence for a 26*26 matrix code (Dialogpost).

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