Posts Tagged ‘zip code software’

Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to send out a letter or other parcel but didn’t know the correct zip code or address to use? You may know the city and state for instance, but for some reason you didn’t write down the complete address. Or you may know the zip code but aren’t sure what the city and/or state is that it goes to?

Luckily, there are many different ways you can find out this information using the internet. There are several web sites that allow you to type in a city name or even a partial city name and then they return all the zip codes listed for that city. On the flip side, if you have the zip code already you can often easily find out the matching city and state.

If you’re like me, I don’t always have internet access or don’t want to connect to the internet every time I need find out this type of information. Zip code software that has its own built-in database is another option you should consider. While it’s not free, it does allow you the convenience of doing these types of zip code look ups using a stand-alone computer or laptop.

A zip code program is the perfect solution for users that are always on the go or may be in situations where they can’t access the internet easily. This software is also great for office use when you don’t want every employee to have access to the internet but they still need to verify zip codes.

Author: Shawn Stephenson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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There is a wide variety of ZIP code software on the market today and it can be difficult to choose which one is the best for your needs. When picking out a ZIP code software program there are five must have features you should be looking for. This article will discuss those features.

At the top of the list and probably one of the most basic things that any ZIP code software program should do is allow its users to quickly and easily filter the zip code data and look up specific zip code information with ease. If the software interface is clunky, slow, or hard to use this will just add unneeded frustration to the user experience.

Another one of the most important features of ZIP code software programs is the file formats the data can be exported to. Not all programs will allow you to export the data and of those that do, you should examine the formats available to make sure they will be usable for what ever application you choose. At the very least the program should be able to export to a Microsoft Excel compatible format (*.xls), Comma Separated (*.csv), or Extensible Markup Language (*.xml) format. These three basic formats can be used just as they are or they can be converted into almost any other format you may need.

Does the ZIP code software you’ve had you eye on for a while also include the data? You better check and see because most vendors will have an additional charge to get the most up to date data. You should look for a program that includes the latest data in to price of the software. They do exist, but sometimes they can be difficult to locate.

Any good ZIP code software will also allow you to do more complex searching and filtering such as performing radius or proximity searches and distance calculations. Radius searches let the user enter a zip code and a distance radius such as ten miles for instance, and then return all the other zip codes (or other locations) within a ten mile circle around the zip code that was entered. Distance calculations will require the entry of 2 zip codes and then the ZIP code software calculates the distance “as the crow flies” between the 2 entered zip codes.

As you can see choosing a ZIP code software may not be as straight forward as it seems but if you will look for these features before you buy you can save a lot of headaches down the road.

Author: Shawn Stephenson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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It seems that there are several zip code software packages available for purchase today, some very costly, some very cheap, and a smattering priced somewhere in between the two. There is only so much you can do with zip code information, so it is not surprising that virtually all of these zip code software programs will basically let you to do the same thing: filter the zip codes depending on the criteria you have entered and export the data to some of the more common formats used at present, thus letting you to use the info in your own software applications or web sites. Some of the more sophisticated zip code software packages also have built-in features such as distance calculation and/or the ability to perform radius searches. Oh, and be sure that the actual data is included in the purchase price as many of the zip code software vendors will charge extra for the data and they don’t allow you to include your own.

When looking for zip code software pay special attention to the features that let you to filter the data. Filtering the data will certainly be the most common task you will run when using a zip code software program. The program should allow an individual to easily verify zip codes, correct spelling of city names, find out which county a city is situated in, and a whole lot more.

Be sure to find a zip code software program that will let you export your data to the formats you will need for your own use. Together with an easy to use interface, a person should be able to easily separate the data and save it to many formats with the click of a button! Depending on the program, it may be possible to export the complete data set or only selected records and information of your choice which can later be used in your own applications.

You may want to contemplate some of the more advanced features a zip code software program has to offer as well. Want to figure out the distance between two zip codes? Look for zip code software that contains everything you need to do just that. If you’re a user who may also want to perform what is known as a radius search, look for a package that will allow you to enter a starting zip code and a distance, such as ten miles for example, and then spits out every zip code within ten miles of the starting zip code.

Finally, make sure that the program you choose includes the latest, most up to date database of over 42000 US zip code listings so you don’t get stuck with a piece of software and no data to go with it. Many vendors try to stick you with the extra cost of the data by selling you the software cheap but making the data very costly.

Author: Shawn Stephenson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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