zipcode dbase

[kyoshi1]

Just switched to V7
the zipcode dbase I have is from 1990 (veteran user of A5v2!)
is there a new Windows based zipcode dbase?

[martinwcole]

http://www.zipcodedownload.com/Products/

[davej]

Zipcode Database

Also http://www.teamredline.com - only $5USD

[kyoshi1]

http://www.zipcodedownload.com/Products/

Thanks for the reference. I downloaded the file and extracted it- it's in ".csv" format with the following fields:
ZIPCode,CityName,StateAbbr
How do I make a table from which a5v7 can read?
thanks again!
Lenny Romeo

[davej]

Zipcode Database

Lenny,

Try the source I mentioned. It comes in a number of formats, one of which is .dbf, which means that Alpha can read it straightaway.

Dave

[APFCClyde]

Go to File/Import/Use Import Genie (for Text files) - just follow the prompts - it should import without a problem.

[Kevin G. Timberlake]

Here you go my friends!

Ok, since I have had a great deal of help from you all...enjoy!

[kyoshi1]

one more question

Thanks for all the help in getting the zipcode dbase - got it, installed it THEN
I forgot how to link it (upgraded from v3 and had to rebuild structure)
please help!

[DHB]

Does that Zipcode file have a unique ID field? With a unique field, the file can be updated externally, simply copied back/distributed and all relationships still work. Thanks.

[DHB]

Unique field in Zipcodes files

Don't forget to always put in a unique record ID in your zipcode files. Don't buy one without it. If the file has a unique ID and the new version maintains it (they just change the zipcode for a city for example) there are no import issues with a new file. Since you dependant files reference the unique ID, all you need do is get the new file, copy it over and you are done.

With purchased files like zipcodedownloads, there is nothing unique in the records so you must programitically account for the relationship. Zipcodes are not unique.

[Fletch]

Your zip code db should also include area codes, state codes, county FIPS, county name and Type. Best zip DB I've found is Zipdata Jr from Melissa data.

One reason why, is for the many area code changes that have and continue to occur. Then when an area code changes, it's a simpler update process based on zip code to update the area codes.

When a user enters the zip code, the city, state and area code are auto-filled (saves keystrokes and reduces errors).

I also have a second table called states. It's linked to the zip code via state code. In this table, I have the all the state abbreviations as well as the full spelled out state names. This gives me the flexibility to use an abbreviation or if needed the full spelling.

Fletch

[DHB]

Unique ID other than Zipcode

More than one city can share a zipcode. We have several such instances locally. In these instances, updating by zipcode without a unique record ID, you are asking for trouble.

In our zipcode files we also have longitude and latitude for mapping purposes. We also store congressional/senatorial/municipal voting district links.

If the zipcode file is linked by zipcode and a zipcode changes to cover more than one town/city, you must set a unique identifier to use both zipcode and the location name. That introduces additional opportuity for errors and slows down access. Accessing data files via a numeric id is much faster than alpha numerics, especially when you have thousands of records to go through.

We've seen zip files merrily going along until someone points out a single error. Any error in a database is indicative of more errors.

We won't buy a zipcode file with update proviledges unless the vendor guarantees that they include unique record identifiers not based on the zipcode and that these indentifiers are only added to, not changed per record.