Files that contain duplicates and errors

Are you just visually scanning in Excel or are you using the native tools in Excel to locate duplicates?

If you are downloading old files, be aware that many file creators back then used an online program named GPS Visulizer (memory may be failing on the name). You could upload a file to it and get GPS coordinates back for the street addresses.

That program was famous for placing locations in the middle of neighborhoods or even in the middle of the woods. Those files sent me to wrong locations many times.

Be sure to check the last time it was updated and if it is fairly new and be sure to notify the file owner if you find a mistake or a duplicate.

Myself, and many others here, use Google "Street View" to verify a
location to avoid those problems.

Yes. I've found it really helpful to visit Google Street View at home before setting off to a new destination regardless of the source. Aside from detect errors in addresses and locations, it helps me to have had a look at the lay of the land in advance.

Keep in mind that if you are finding sites within a mile, or even less, a lot of these could be legitimate. I have stood at intersections in Canada with a Tim Horton's on all four corners.

Even smaller, local coffee shop chains can easily have two stores within a mile.

Gas stations often have two or more stations in close proximity, either side of the highway, to catch traffic in both directions, or either end of town.

When working on my own files I always use Google Earth and Streetview to help, but both of these could be a couple, even ten, years out-of-date in more rural areas.

I do use EPE for just this purpose on every file of mine, but again, each and every duplicate (I choose 1Km radius) but I have to verify each and every one found to determine for sure that it is or is not a true duplicate and not a legit 2nd location.

I you are using a business web site's Store Locator to gather information I have found a lot of these to be terribly inaccurate, sometime out by a mile or two, even more.

If you know of specific inaccuracies then Contact the Maintainer. We are not in the position to drive across the continent verifying on-the-ground the precise locations.

Some (many) files on here appear to be no longer maintained. They have not been formally orphaned, but they have been abandoned.

With those files I just update my own copy with what I find. For some I keep a running log of my own changes, just in case a maintainer gets keen again, or someone new takes on the project.

Some maintainers choose *not* to make themselves contactable, or otherwise just do not respond to updates (You know who you are), so I have given up on those and just update my copy.

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