Data Layout#
Introduction#
Canadian Geo Data is a Postal Code database in fixed length (ASCII), FoxPro (dbf), and Access (mdb) formats. Canadian Geo Data contains all the Postal Codes that are located within Canada. You can use this information to verify the addresses and organizations in your mailing list and to append additional data such as latitude and longitude.
The included databases are:
Area Code Overlay Database
Canadian Geo Data Database
Canadian Geo Data comes as Zip file to downloaded.
List of Files#
Click on file name to download the sample file.
- Fixed length (ASCII)
- FoxPro (dbf)
- Access (mdb)
Layout and Definitions#
Overlay Database (overlay.txt)#
Column Name |
Type |
Definition |
|---|---|---|
Parent |
char(3) |
The original area code (listed in the “canada.txt” file) |
Overlay |
char(1) |
Indicates if a Postal Code has more than one Area Code. If a letter code indicates there is an overlay, you must refer to the overlay file to locate alternative area codes |
Group |
char(1) |
A single letter matching the letter located in the “canada.txt” files overlay field |
CR + LF |
char(2) |
The carriage return and line feed code |
Postal Database (canada.txt)#
Column Name |
Type |
Definition |
|---|---|---|
PostalCode |
char(6) |
Postal Codes identify specific geographic delivery areas. The standard format for the Canadian Postal Code is A1A 1A1 |
Municipality |
char(30) |
The municipality (city), community, station or other name by which a Postal Code area is known |
Province |
char(2) |
The Canada Post standard 2-letter province abbreviation |
Latitude |
char(9) |
The geographic coordinate of a point measured in degrees north or south of the equator |
Longitude |
char(11) |
The geographic coordinate of a point measured in degrees east or west of the Greenwich meridian |
TimeZone |
char(2) |
The number representing the hours past UTC Time Standard. All Melissa Data products express time zones in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). The time zone in which the Postal Code resides |
DST |
char(1) |
Indicates if the Postal Code is affected by Daylight Savings Time |
AreaCode |
char(3) |
The dominant 3-digit telephone area code associated with the Postal Code. The Overlay Code field will indicate if more than one Area Code is associated with a single Postal Code |
Overlay |
char(1) |
Indicates if a Postal Code has more than one Area Code. If a letter code indicates there is an overlay, you must refer to the overlay file to locate alternative area codes |
Filler |
char(15) |
This location is reserved for future use |
CR + LF |
char(2) |
The carriage return and line feed code |
Code and Definitions#
Overlay Database (overlay.txt)#
Column Name |
Code |
Definition |
|---|---|---|
Group |
A |
Vancouver, BC overlay (604/778) |
B |
Toronto, ON overlay (416/647) |
|
C |
Hamilton, ON overlay (905/289) |
|
D to Z |
Future overlays |
|
NL |
Newfoundland and Labrador |
|
NS |
Nova Scotia |
|
NT |
Northwest Territories |
|
NU |
Nunavut |
|
ON |
Ontario |
|
PE |
Prince Edward Island |
|
QC |
Quebec |
|
SK |
Saskatchewan |
|
YT |
Yukon |
Postal Database (canada.txt)#
Column Name |
Code |
Definition |
|---|---|---|
Province |
AB |
Alberta |
BC |
British Columbia |
|
MB |
Manitoba |
|
NB |
New Brunswick |
|
NL |
Newfoundland and Labrador |
|
NS |
Nova Scotia |
|
NT |
Northwest Territories |
|
NU |
Nunavut |
|
ON |
Ontario |
|
PE |
Prince Edward Island |
|
QC |
Quebec |
|
SK |
Saskatchewan |
|
YT |
Yukon |
|
Time Zone |
3A |
Newfoundland Time (1/2 hour change) |
4 |
Atlantic |
|
5 |
Eastern |
|
6 |
Central |
|
7 |
Mountain |
|
8 |
Pacific |
|
DST |
Y |
Uses daylight savings time |
N |
Does not use daylight savings time |
|
Overlay |
Blank |
Indicates that no overlay exists |
A |
Vancouver, BC overlay (604/778) |
|
B |
Toronto, ON overlay (416/647) |
|
C |
Hamilton, ON overlay (905/289) |
|
D to Z |
Future overlays |