|
Postal Explorer > Publication 28 - Postal Addressing Standards > Appendix E Address Standardization - Alphanumeric/Fractional Coding
Alphanumeric ranges present a challenge to the address matching process,
whether it is being done on the MLOCR, by a vendor's software, or manually.
The difficulty in alphanumeric matching is in trying to determine what
addresses fall in the range. The following coding rules are being provided to
eliminate the inconsistency in the way some of our alphanumeric ranges are
coded. The rules that follow apply to both the primary and secondary ranges
in street records, rural route box numbers, and highway contract box
numbers.
These rules have been developed through meetings, both internal and with
some of the major address matching software vendors. We can more
accurately match alphanumerics against the ZIP+4 file if they are coded
consistently with these rules.
In whole numeric ranges all single alphanumeric combinations make a match
as long as the input record is higher than the numeric low and lower than the
numeric high and the ZIP+4 add-on code is the same.
Example:
100-198(e) MAIN ST 12345-1234
98A invalid (outside of range)
198A invalid (outside of range)
102B valid
158A valid
158AA invalid (multiple alphas must be coded)
If 104A MAIN ST has a separate add-on code, it must be coded and the
range 100-198 must be broken (as 100-104 and 106-198).
The low range and the high range must contain the same format of the
alphanumeric combination. Numeric numbers do not make a match to
alphanumeric ranges.
10A - 20A valid
115C - 115F valid
AB90 - AB120 valid
15AB - 15AC valid
12 - 12 invalid (numerics are not included in alphanumeric
ranges)
10 - 20A invalid (numeric to alphanumeric)
10A - 20 invalid (alphanumeric to numeric)
A - AB invalid (single to double alpha)
It is acceptable to go from a one-digit numeric to a two-digit numeric (or
two-digit numeric to a three-digit numeric, etc.) in a single alphanumeric
range record, but it is invalid to go from a single alpha to a double alpha (or
double alpha to a triple alpha, etc.).
90A 101A valid
AB1 AB10 valid
A101 AB101 invalid (single to double alpha)
The middle of a range contains all of the logical alphanumeric combinations
as determined by the value of the low and high ranges and the odd/even
indicator.
2A-10A cannot contain 1A, 4B, or 10B, but does contain 3A, 6A, and 7A.
BC15-BF15 cannot contain BA15, BM15, or BC16, but does contain BD15.
Note: A pure numeric range (1-99) contains all possible combinations
with a single trailing alpha (e.g., 1A, 3X, 25Z, 43A).
When rule one is followed, either the numeric value can be ranged or the
alpha value can be ranged but not both; numerics are not included in
alphanumeric ranges.
1A - 4A valid (contains 2A, 3A, but not 2B, 1, 2, 3, or 4)
1A - 1F valid (contains 1B, 1E, but not 1G)
B3 - N3 valid (contains D3, L3, but not A3)
C4 - C16 valid (contains C5, C10, but not D5, 10, or C17)
1A - 4F invalid (contains both values ranged)
In a range with multiple alphas in a single field, only the last position of the
alpha is ranged.
10AB-10AD valid
101AAA-101AAE valid
BC100-BF100 valid
101AAA-101ABA invalid (middle alpha changed)
AB100-AD199 invalid (complex alpha and numeric ranged)
If a range consists of multiple alphas (with or without numerics), and a
position other than the last alpha seems to change (as in the invalid example
above), multiple records are coded for that range, as in the following:
A centralized delivery receptacle containing these alphas:
: AAA : ABA : ACA : ADA :
: AAB : ABB : ACB : ADB :
: AAC : ABC : ACC : ADC :
: AAD : ABD : ACD : ADD :
The ZIP+4 file will be reflected as shown below for a single ZIP+4 add-on
code:
AAA AAD valid (first record)
ABA ABD valid (second record)
ACA ACD valid (third record)
ADA ADD valid (fourth record)
AAA ADD invalid (middle alpha cannot change)
The following example describes a condition that you may encounter. In this
apartment complex there are three Arrow locks, one for building A, one for
building B, and one for building C.
A1A A2A A3A A1B A2B A3B 1st Arrow lock
B1A B2A B3A B1B B2B B3B 2nd Arrow lock
C1A C2A C3A C1B C2B C3B 3rd Arrow lock
Because the last two characters change in each address, apply the
preceding rules to range only the last alpha position as shown below. The
ZIP+4 file shows multiple records for each building. Each Arrow lock has its
own ZIP+4 add-on code.
A1A A1B add-on for 1st Arrow lock
A2A A2B add-on for 1st Arrow lock
A3A A3B add-on for 1st Arrow lock
B1A B1B add-on for 2nd Arrow lock
B2A B2B add-on for 2nd Arrow lock
B3A B3B add-on for 2nd Arrow lock
C1A C1B add-on for 3rd Arrow lock
C2A C2B add-on for 3rd Arrow lock
C3A C3B add-on for 3rd Arrow lock
The following describes how to code two styles of grid addresses:
N18W22604 or 6W220
In both of these examples, only the right-most numeric portion should be
ranged.
N18W22604 N18W22698 valid
6W220 6W298 valid
N23W2400 N26W2598 invalid (ranging both numerics)
4N3000 7N3098 invalid (ranging both numerics)
The following describes the way to set the odd/even/both (O/E/B) indicator in
alphanumeric ranges. After following the preceding rules, the proper setting
of the O/E/B indicator is important. The O/E/B indicator must be set as BOTH
in every instance where the alpha is the ranged element. Even and odd
indicators may be set only if the numeric portion of the alphanumeric range is
the single element ranged. Obviously, any range containing both even and
odd numeric elements must be coded as BOTH.
10A - 20A acceptable (numeric range, BOTH or EVEN)
115C - 115F (alpha range, must be BOTH)
AB1 - AB10 (numeric range, 1-10, must be BOTH)
AB2 - AB10 acceptable (numeric range, BOTH or EVEN)
A1A - A1B (alpha range, must be BOTH)
6W220 - 6W298 acceptable (numeric range, BOTH or EVEN)
All possible fractions are contained within the limits of numeric ranges.
Individual fractional addresses should not be coded unless they fall outside of
the numeric range or have a different ZIP+4 Code. If the range is 1-99(O),
13 1/2, 49 1/3, 57 3/4, and 75 1/16 fall within the limits of the range. 99 1/2
does not, nor does 1/2 or any other purely fractional address.
If a fractional address is the beginning or ending number on the blockface,
the ZIP+4 file will show a numeric range record and one or more fractional
address records that share the same ZIP+4 Code. The address should be
ranged to itself (99 1/2-99 1/2 B). If your fractional address needs to carry a
different ZIP+4 Code, it must be pulled out of the numeric range as a
separate record.
Example:
101 - 199(O) MAIN ST 1245-1235
101 1/2 valid
199 1/2 invalid (outside of range)
1/2 Invalid (outside of range)
|
USPS
Home | Postal Explorer Home
