Postcode Address File

Postcode Address File

The Postcode Address File (PAF) is a data file available from Royal Mail.

Every house and business in the United Kingdom has been given a postal address by Royal Mail. This address is used as a routing instruction by Royal Mail staff to sort and deliver mail quickly and accurately. However, it is not always a geographically accurate description of where a property is located. [http://www.postcomm.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/postcode-address-file--changing-postal-addresses/PAFCodeofPracticeReviewFinalDoc.pdf]

The PAF is a complete collection of over 28 million Royal Mail postal addresses and UK postcodes. It is available in a variety of formats including Digital Audio Tape and compact disc. A charge is made for lookup services or wholesale supply of PAF data.

tructure of the file

Application

Alias data

The Alias File is a supplementary file containing additional data, including details that have changed over time, or have been slightly amended by the public, and then used. This file is used to identify these elements and cross-reference with the official postal address.

The Alias File holds four types of record: Locality, Thoroughfare, Delivery Point Alias, and County Alias:

*The Locality record - holds short forms, local names, and 'postally-not-required' (PNRL) details.
*The Thoroughfare record - contains replacement street and road names for a given locality, thoroughfare or dependent thoroughfare combination.
*The Delivery Point Alias record - holds additional information at given addresses, such as trading names and building names.
*The County record - holds traditional, administrative and postal county information.

Royal Mail, in their guide to the data products ( [ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rm/PAF_Digest_Dec_03.pdf PAF Digest] , p12) imply that the county alias information was provided when Royal Mail removed the former postal county from the main file.

Errors

Royal Mail acknowledges that the PAF contains errors, and publishes forms for submitting error reports. A very small number of addresses are not listed correctly, and others (especially new developments) may not be listed at all for a period of time.

External links

* [http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?mediaId=400085&catId=5200019 PAF from Royal Mail]
* [ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/cmwalk/doc/active/doc21800003/PAF_Digest_Dec_03.pdf Why, What and How. The guide to using the PAF file] - A document that explains the PAF file in some detail.
* [http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?mediaId=400086&catId=5200003 Alias File from Royal Mail]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Address Point — is a mapping/GIS data product supplied by Great Britain s national mapping agency, Ordnance Survey. It is based on the UK’s postal mail organisation, the Royal Mail, list of postal addresses, Postcode Address File (PAF). The most significant… …   Wikipedia

  • List of postcode districts in the United Kingdom — This is a list of postcode districts in the United Kingdom. A group of postcode districts with the same alphabetical prefix is called a postcode area. All, or part, of one or more postcode districts are grouped into post towns.[1] Contents 1 List …   Wikipedia

  • Nationale Postcode Loterij — Agency overview Headquarters Amsterdam, Netherlands …   Wikipedia

  • Postcodes in the United Kingdom — The postal codes used in the United Kingdom are known as postcodes.[1] They are alphanumeric and were introduced by the Royal Mail over a 15 year period from 11th October 1959 to 1974.[2] A full postcode is known as a postcode unit and usually… …   Wikipedia

  • Postal codes in the United Kingdom — UK postal codes are known as postcodes.UK postcodes are alphanumeric. These codes were introduced by the Royal Mail over a 15 year period from 1959 to 1974 mdash; the full list is now available electronically from the Royal Mail as the Postcode… …   Wikipedia

  • Postal counties of the United Kingdom — The postal counties of the United Kingdom, now known officially as the former postal counties, were subdivisions of the UK in routine use by the Royal Mail until 1996. The raison d être of the postal county (as opposed to any other kind of… …   Wikipedia

  • Mailsort — is a five digit address coding scheme used by the Royal Mail (the UK s postal service) and its business customers for the automatic direction of mail. Mail users who can present mail sorted by Mailsort code and in quantities of 4,000 upwards… …   Wikipedia

  • Humberside — For other uses, see Humberside Collegiate Institute. Humberside Motto: United we Flourish Humberside within England in 1991 Geography …   Wikipedia

  • Royal Mail — Holdings plc Type State Owned Limited company Industry Postal service Founded 1516 …   Wikipedia

  • Friends of Real Lancashire — The Friends of Real Lancashire are an outsider pressure group affiliated to the Association of British Counties calling for the wider recognition of the historic boundaries of Lancashire. Its chairman is Chris Dawson.BackgroundThe Friends of Real …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”