PostCoder API Professional Powerful address collection and search options
What is it?
A developers' toolkit which includes a full range of PAF® and GeoData search functions maximised for efficiency and speed, with working examples for many standard Windows development languages. This allows you to seamlessly integrate address look-up and validation into your own software. It is our most popular product because it is so versatile.
Unlike our Web services, PostCoder API Professional is installed along with the data on your server, giving you more control over address database updates and configuration management.
Who uses it?
Ideal for any developer, especially of call centre and CRM software, web-based applications and accountancy packages. Particularly popular with the government, education and healthcare industries.
Why should I use it?
This is our most powerful product for Address Matching which you can seamlessly integrate into your own applications. Address Matching is the most powerful address searching function allowing the input of wildcards, spelling mistakes and incorrectly ordered address fragments to find the correct address.
If you are a developer for a company you can use the API to add address searches to internal applications.
If you are a freelance developer or software house, you can add value by adding address lookup to your own product and sell it onto your clients under your own brand. Offered with choices of data and update frequency options, you can tailor the supply to suit your need.
The address data file is fully optimised for high-speed searching with direct access to search indexes. You can rely on our experience, built up over many years with UK address data, to help you deliver the high performance levels your users demand.
PostCoder API Professional's Rapid Addressing function can return 45 address search results per second*, lightning speed for any CRM or Accounts system. (*Performance may vary based on Server/PC specification and quality of input data).
What applications do people use it for?
You can develop your own batch cleaning system, add address lookup to your website, build a find my nearest search, add address lookup to Accounting/Hotel/Travel/Booking software or speed up Call Centre scripts. The list is endless, but you can use PostCoder API Professional to integrate fast and effective address validation and verification into any Windows based application.
Free Extras
Use PCGrids and Ordnance Survey AddressPoint™ data with the API to provide grid references to 1m accuracy at Delivery Point level.
Use the ACT! Wrapper to add address look-up seamlessly to your ACT! software.
What address data is used?
Customise your applications with a choice of data:
- Royal Mail's Postcode Address File (PAF®) - 1.7 million Postcodes and 28 million Delivery Points including UDPRN
- GeoData - 100m Grid References, NHS Health Authority codes and names, Local Authority information, OSGB36 and ETRS89 Longitudes and Latitudes
- Current County from Allies®
- NSPD from ONS - Primary Care Trust codes and names
- Monthly data updates
How do I pay for it?
Purchase an annual licence for unlimited use per PC or per network. Licence includes full access to our Technical Support Team for development queries, PAF® data updates and complete developer toolkit.
Please contact the sales team for more information on pricing.
More Details
Which development environments are supported?
The API will run on Windows 32-bit and 64-bit platforms. Any development language supporting standard DLL, COM interface or ActiveX library calls may be used. Examples included with the API installation demonstrate how to integrate with Access, ASP, C++, C#, Delphi, Visual Basic, Visual Foxpro, VisualBasic.NET, Visual C++.NET, ASP.NET and ACT! from Sage.
What examples are available?
The API Professional comes packaged with comprehensive examples suiting a variety of common software technologies, including Microsoft Access, ASP.Net, C++, Delphi, VB.Net, C# and more. If you require assistance with other technologies, contact our Support team on +44 (0)1508 491458 who can provide assistance and other examples from our archives.
What level of performance does it offer?
The API contains complex and effective matching algorithms developed by us over many years. We believe its performance is unmatched. With a throughput of over 70 addresses per second with good input data, this should offer more than enough capacity for even the largest companies. Our optimised database ensures high speed Rapid Addressing as well as maximising the accuracy of results from the Address Matching and Basic Search functions.
Which type of licence is required?
To use Royal Mail PAF® data with the API on a public facing website you must be registered for Premise level data with or without GeoData.
To use this product in-house for an internal application, a range of licences are available starting from £80+ VAT per user. The developer toolkit is provided at no extra cost. Please contact us for costs.
What level of technical knowledge is needed to be able to use the API Professional?
You must have a basic understanding of interfacing with a DLL or ActiveX control and be able to create and manipulate objects based on a DLL or ActiveX control - examples are provided. You also need to be able to write functions and procedures that reference DLLs or ActiveX controls. A basic knowledge of the screen design components and how to allocate functions or procedures to them in your chosen development environment is also required.
Which DLL is used for ActiveX?
The ActiveX library is called PCUTAX.DLL. PCUTILS.DLL is a standard dynamic link library and is used only if ActiveX is not required.
