Validate Zip/postal codes

[sineados]

Hi,

We have a shipping database where a user enters the address given on an online order form. We have found that in the majority of cases the address is invalid and would like to trap it when the user enters the address into our database. (We have no contact with the customer).

The majority of our shipments are to the States where there is any number of zip codes for a particular City and State. Does anyone know how I can make sure that the correct zip code is linked to the correct city and state. The US Postal website is updated every month so getting the information from here is not really an option.

We are using Access. I know FedEx get a file routed every month and use this. Does anyone know how I can get this file, or does anyone validate their addresses?.

any help is appreciated.
thanks,
Sinead

 

[thornmastr]

Both the post office and FED EX will give you their database plus updates for a monthly fee. If you want it free and up to date, you may have a problem. Robert Berman
Data Base consultant
Vulcan Software Services
thornmastr@yahoo.com

 

[ppkgoldengun]

I have a very large table that links zips to City State (originally based on USPS data about a year ago). On my forms I have the user enter the zip before the city and state and then autopopulate the city and state based upon the zip. If the zip doesn's exist I ask them if they want to update the zip file. If they don't it simply returns, if they do then they can populate the city state on a popup form. Actual new zips do not get created that often.

Of course, I am not handling shipping so if the enduser enters a wrong city state it really doesn't affect the application (yes bad data but no miss directed shipments).