Carolyn writes: << [snip] Also, someone mentioned the +4 doesn't have much value in the US. It can mean days in the delivery of mail. I regularly correspond with someone in Indianapolis (3 hours away) via mail they don't have email. Mail can take from 2 to 10 days to reach them until I started using +4. Now they usually get it the next day. When we are doing large mailings we use the Zip +4 +2 +1 which saves a ton of money. There are various services that will determine the +2 +1 for you. My understanding of the zip code meaning is this: Zip gives area, +4 gives block, +2 gives house and +1 is a check digit. I hope this offers some help. Carolyn >> Very educational. I was not aware of the +2 and +1, and I have yet to see one, or even the space for it on a form. It does look like and afterthought to an afterthought and is using more storage than necessary up to 12 characters now! And you can't store it in an integer because you need to know if you have 5 or 9 or 11 or 12 chars, and you need the hyphens at the proper places. Humm, this looks like a job for NULL ITEM! One more thing to help in mailing. I use Microsoft Word for Windows 6.0 which has a neat little feature. It can print an address on envelopes and labels with this software onto my laserjet, with a delivery point barcode. This seems to help for packages and letters. Kind regards, Denys. . . P.S. Now quickly, Do you know your ZIP +4 +2 +1 ?