Zip codes?

You can search for postal codes in Canada.

The map data for the US does not contain zip code data that is searchable.

There's a zip code file here on the site that you can load as Custom POIs if you want.

I believe Garmin skipped the zip code option to have the user find addresses effortless and swift.

Thanks, I am new and today I just loaded speed cameras etc.for the first time on my 760 and can see them. But is there any way to use the zip files instead of a state or city?

For example, sometimes when plotting an address I come up with a city name and a township name, witch leads to frustration. Zip on my Navagon gets me past that much faster.

Don't get me wrong Garmin makes great GPSrs, but I don't understand why they would leave it out in the US.

I will look up the zip file though, it would be nice to be able to filter for a zip, view it on a map, and hopefully use a point on the map as a destination.

No. Unfortunately, that's not currently the case.

It's the way that the data is programmed by Navteq. Zip codes are not searchable for the US City Navigator maps.

you can download zipcodes & use them from here
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/2356

Well, Magellan which uses Navteq maps and have the option for zip codes. Thats why I thought it was a Garmin issue.

OK, I'm a little slow, but I d/l them, but can't search for a zip code. It just lists cities and tells you the zip code, defeating the purpose.

edit:

It is some help after all. I can now set a city as a destination and use the resulting zip as conformation.

But using a zip in a drill down(either state or city) would be much better.

not exactly...

magellan and navigon both use navteq and it's zip searcheable.

The US City Navigator map data for Garmin does not currently have searchable zip code data. Again, it's the way that it is programmed. Since we don't work for the companies, it entirely possible that Magellan and Navigon use additional data sources and programming that provide this data ability.

I've worked with Zipcode and Postal code files in the past and Zipcodes are notoriously inaccurate for indicating physical geo-locations. There are places in this country that at the 5-digit level, areas in two different towns share the same 5-digit zip.

I can understand how frustrating it can be not to be able to use something you are familiar with. You may find it becoming easier and quicker working with your Garmin if you begin to think POI and State/City/Address for non POI destinations.

I'm a courier and I have found zip codes are an important part of an address. We used to use ADC maps(map books) and without zip codes you are often times confronted with several possible street ranges. Sometimes when, for example, you look up Main street you get a paragraph of possibilities. Zip codes just cut to the chase faster. Yes some areas do share zip codes, but I have never found that to be a problem, because they are part of the drill down and the last screen often shows all results. In DC you often get a street with NE and NW(same zip code) as two possibilities.

I do think I figured out why Garmin doesn't use them, they (zip code table) slow the UI down to the hour glass every time I do a search using the zip POI file posted above.

Well, that zip code file is HUGE!!! It has a ton of data in it. If I were going to use it on my unit, I would break it up into smaller segments.

I don't think that it would cause a slow down if it were programmed into the map data, however, since it wouldn't be trying to load the entire country each time.

When this thread came up I went to Wiki and found a lot of info on US Zip Codes and some of the exceptions.

Thought it was pretty interesting for a short read.

Don't get me wrong, I like my nuvi, but my Navagon(Navteq maps too)allows you to enter zip codes to determine State and City.

The Navagon's UI is also much slower than a Garmin, so I can't tell if it's the zips or the UI.

Vic, you might try breaking the zip code file up into sections. You can do it manually or I believe that retiredtechnician's software will extract out the data for you by state.

Yes, http://PoiVerifier.com will split csv POI files into state/providence files based on coordinates.

WORD OF WARNING: If you're going to split it manually, be carefull if using Excel. Once again, Excel's formatting will mess up a POI file. When using its default settings, just opening and saving the file will cause all zip codes with a leading zeros to drop those zeros (i.e. 00501 will be saved as 501).

RT

Just for giggles I loaded the zipcode files into my 760. I noticed the local ones were great but if I typed in Las Vegas at the spell screen, all of the towns were in NY and not NV.
Maybe still a problem between NY and NV?
Just opened the file and kinda' checked it out, it looks like NV is still NY.
Maybe needs correction.

For those people that want to search by ZipCode, all you have to do is take the ZipCode CSV file and load it into Excel. Once there, swap around column 3 and 4 so that the actual ZipCodes are in column 3 and the town/state is in column 4.

Now sort all columns by column 3. This will place the ZipCodes that are missing the leading "ZEROS" at the top. Now you can concatenate the appropriate leading zeros to those that need them.

Save as a CSV file and now use PoiLoader to load the ZipCode CSV file into your Garmin.

Now you will be able to search by spelling the ZipCode!!!!

Let's be clear that the leading zeros in the zip code field are not missing. This is another formatting error induced by Excel when Excel's default settings are used. (All one has to do is 'open & save' this file in Excel with default settings and the the leading zeros will be lost. DON'T USE EXCEL ON THIS FILE UNLESS YOU CHANGE THE DEFAULT SETTINGS!) Again, this is a reason to use a text editor (like Notepad) to view csv files.

RT

If you read what I was doing, EDITING the ZipCode file so it could be searched by ZIPCODE and not City/State.

Normal text editors will not seperate the columns and allow you to swap them around.

So if you use EXCEL just do as I said and you will not have a problem WITH MISSING ZEROS in the .csv file

You said "Now sort all columns by column 3. This will place the ZipCodes that are missing the leading "ZEROS" at the top. Now you can concatenate the appropriate leading zeros to those that need them.". This means you have a file with missing leading zeros in the zipcode field. To some people this could mean the original file was missing 'leading zeros'. That was what I was addressing.

To go one step further, one does not need to have 'missing leading zeros' if you change Excel's default. Select the zipcode field, then reformat that field by selecting 'special' formatting with 'zipcodes' selected. You will now not have a problem with 'missing leading zeros' and there will be no need to "concatenate the appropriate leading zeros".

As I said "DON'T USE EXCEL ON THIS FILE UNLESS YOU CHANGE THE DEFAULT SETTINGS". It will incorrectly re-format the file.

rt

Open zip code poi with excel
Select the zip code column by clicking on the letter at the top of the zip code column ie “D”
From tool bar at top select format>cells>number>special
Select Zip code in the window that opens on right.
Select OK …. Missing zeros will be added

It would be beneficial if the version of Excel you used was posted as this procedure may or may not be true, depending on which version one uses; and whether the 'zipcode' formatting of the specified cell was done before or after H Hannah did a "swap around column 3 and 4".

This is the reason the original procedure I posted above is in general terms .... it can be adapted to H Hannah and most anyone's use.

RT

The version is:
Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (11.8231.8221) SP3
Part of Microsoft Office Professional Edition 2003

I don't remember the previous versions I have used but there didn't seem to be much of a difference... I can't speak for the latest versions... But you may have a good point.

Edit: This method as well as your method, if you are using a similar version of excel, doesn't matter if you swap the column before or after changing the format of the cells

Could someone that has 'sorted' the proper column(s) with the correct version please upload the file so that others can try it?

Also, how do you enter a destination by zip code? Is it under 'extras' and 'custom POIs'? Or can you enter the zip code at the 'spell city' prompt (which is what I'd really like to do!).

I'm assuming you can load the zip file with POI loader like I do with everything else. I have lots of space so I don't see the benefit of breaking it into smaller files.

Thanks,
Larry

I agree, that would be a great feature to have on the garmin units with US maps. I am an EMT and work for a private transport company, being able to search by zipcode would be soo much easier than looking through a list of possible matches

I want to thank those who showed me how to add leading ZEROs to zipcodes in Excel, something I did't know. Saves me from having to concatenate the zeros.
--------------
But back to the original reason for using EXCEL to edit this file.

It seems that some people who download the ZipCode.csv file from this site want to be able to
select a zipcode and then be able to route to it.

To be able to select a ZipCode for a routing destination, column 3 and 4 must be re-arranged in the ZipCode.csv file. This will allow those to select a zipcode for a destination.

So when you go to:
Where To >> Extras >>Custom POIs >> ZipCode

All that you have to do is "SPELL" the zipcode, and when it shows up at top of the screen select it and then select "MAP" then "GO".

Text editors will not let you re-arrange columns. So to do this easily you have to use something like Excel (Other Spreadsheets programs may also work).

This was my purpose for making the post in the first place.

Nick,

I found this website that has a ZIPCODE data base file. It seems to be more updated than the one presently here at PoiFactory.

http://mappinghacks.com/data/zipcode.zip

It is in both .csv and sgl format and both are ziped together.

A couple of column swapping and the concatenating of the City and State columns should give you and updated zip code file.

The new file has 43192 zips. Also the Porto Rico codes seem to be corrected and more complete.

HH