In this paper time-harmonic surface wave motion for progressive waves incident normally on and scattered by a partially immersed fixed vertical barrier in water of infinite depth is considered in the presence of surface tension. The problem for the velocity potential is solved, as others have been previously, by first supposing that the free-surface slopes at the barrier are prescribed and the formal solution in terms of these is obtained explicitly by complex-variable methods. To simplify the calculation the known solution corresponding to zero free-surface slopes at the barrier is subtracted out first and emphasis is placed on determining the residual potential. Finally, an appropriate dynamical edge condition is imposed on the formal solution to determine the required values of the edge-slope constants and hence fully solve the transmission problem. The problem was first examined some time ago using a complex-variable reduction procedure before the advent of this condition, although an explicit formal solution was not obtained, that earlier work forms a basis for the present investigation. It is noted in conclusion how the solution of the problem for waves generated by a partially immersed non-uniform heaving vertical plate may easily be obtained in a similar manner, since the formal solution required is just the residual potential determined in our main problem.