If you want a completely automated way to check zip codes, I think you'll be disappointed, at least with what the Google Maps API offers in geo-coding.
Search the API docs and this list for geo-coding, and learn what the GClientGeocoder can do. Also, there are major zip code experts on this list who have provided links to ways to look up zip codes in batches. Using the G Maps API, I prefer to have human eyes check each geocode result before it is marked on a map or stored. I follow these principles for addresses: 1. Get the full, correct, address as early as possible when the data enters your system; this includes doing any geocoding, zip checks, address normalization, etc. 2. The best source of accurate data is those who most need it to be correct, starting with the people who live or do business at the address. 3. Find a way to confirm addresses in more than one system (one system might be postal-mailing something to the address). More thoughts: When you say you want to test for a certain street in a certain city and state, does that mean you also have a certain street number? That is, do you have an actual address to check? Assuming no typographical errors, the more precise the address, the more reliable the geocoding can be. A heuristic approach might be possible if you had many addresses: check the zips returned by geocoding all the addresses on a given street in a given city. Addresses with (very) close street numbers should have the same zips. But that method could only work with a dense sample of addresses. This just illustrates that geocoding is a practice of approximation. You probably want one of the other services. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google Maps API" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Google-Maps-API?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
