The United Kingdom (GB) Postal Matcher compares your data with the Royal Mail Postcode Address File (PAF) and returns address details and database matches.
The primary functions of the GB Postal Matcher are to:
- Collect a list of all possible streets/building names in a post town that are possible matches for the GB Postal Matching data
- Compare address components of the data to the possible matches and grades those possible matches
- Evaluate the graded possibilities to determine the level of the match
- Populate the Postal Matching Output area with the result
There are two types of postal matching methods:
- Information containing address matching details is used to match to the Level 1, Level 2, and Base Data Directory. Results are then populated to the Output Data Area.
- Only the postal code and house number/house name (as stored in the input area) are used to match to the Level 1, Level 2, and Base Data Directory. The result is populated into the Output Data Area. Optionally, possible matches can be returned in a separate output area.
The Postal Matchers use output from the parsing process as inputs. To obtain optimum performance, the input to the Postal Matchers must first be sorted in geographic order, using the Sort Utility.
Achieving a positive match using the first method indicates that the complete components in the input (populated from an address) were used in matching to the directory. For example, a call in which the post town, county, street name, house number/building name, and postal code were considered similar enough to indicate a match.
Click any of the following topics to learn more about how to setup and run the Postal Matcher process.
- Schema Editor
- Input and Output Settings
- Options
- Editing Advanced Rules
- Running the Postal Matcher
- Postal Directory Browser