Re: FN-FORUM: Postcode / New Question

date posted 2nd April 2008 12:23

> Is there a tool which can convert a postcode into Longitude and Latitude
> coordinates ?

Google has a free geocoder API that will do this for the outbound (first)
part of the code, and there are other free ones too. Google's API will
give you an accurate location if you can specify the whole address, with
or without the postcode, but it's not legally allowed to do this for just
the postcode.

If you want to do this manually, try Google Maps, Multimap, etc. - just
type the postcode into the search box for an accurate location.

If you want accuracy for just the postcode, and automated processing,
you'll have to pay someone for access to Royal Mail's data, or the data
and a licence to use it. MapMechanics sell a postcode database that
includes current and out-of-date codes, for a reasonable price. There are
plenty of other providers too.

HTH,

Anthony
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