Apr11 Written by:Lisa Bowes
4/11/2006
Our latest version of DAT-MAIL 05.05.xx.xx will be posted today for downloading in order to enable users to begin transitioning to the new Mail.dat 05-2 specification. From the IDEAlliance Mail.dat site:
http://www.maildat.org/calendar.html
Mail.dat 05-2 Implementation Information
The following conditions will apply to this Mail.dat Version Change::
- Mail.dat, when updated with the described values and fields will constitute Mail.dat Version 05-2
- Mail.dat 05-2 will be implemented with the following transition window:
- Mail preparer May Start (Users Must be Able To Catch) using Mail.dat 05-2 on April 10, 2006
- Mail preparer Must Start (Must Send) using Mail.dat 05-2 on May 8, 2006.
- PostalOne! will have a release accommodating all Mail.dat 05-2 changes on April 9, 2006.
- USPS Mailing Standards will write the final rule for the “250 pound pallet requirement” with an Must Comply date of May 11, 2006.
- All other emerging USPS prep changes will have a Must Comply date later than May 8, 2006.
We make it easy for DAT-MAIL users to choose the timing of their update based on their own transition to the new Mail.dat file specification. Both the “old” version of DAT-MAIL 05.04.xx.xx and the ‘new” version of DAT-MAIL 05.05.xx.xx will be publicly posted and available for downloading for the next few weeks.
There is some important information to consider prior to updating –
DAT-MAIL only supports IDEAlliance Mail.dat conformance testing for one Mail.dat file specification at a time. Once you update to DAT-MAIL 05.05.xx.xx, you will only be able to conformance test and validate 05-2 Mail.dat files. Any previous file format will still work, but will be automatically updated to 05-2 Mail.dat file spec, and will not be validated.
In addition, any previously-imported Mail.dat files that already exist when you update to DM 05.05.xx.xx will automatically convert to the new 05-2 specification when you open them.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the new Mail.dat file specifications, please contact support, or email me directly at lbowes@windowbook.com.
Best wishes!
Lisa
Copyright ©2006 Lisa Bowes
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