Zip Codes (5 and 6+ field differences)? - Page 2

dknelson · July 18th, 2010, 03:43 AM

I am back and will take a look at this either today or tomorrow evening. Mine are working fine though some of the distances are way off. It is possible that some of the columns are still reversed. I'm going to have to take a good look at the coordinates and see what, if any, changes need to be made. I am getting distances when using the Canadian codes now but some are just way off.

As for it not asking you are a zipcode? That may have something to do with how your browser handles those cookies. For some reason, Firefox recently saved the cookie for my classifieds. I closed the browser and then opened it back up but it still didn't ask me for my zipcode again. I ended up having to go into my Firefox cookies and manually deleting that one before it asked me again.

Chuck S · July 18th, 2010, 04:53 AM

The distances are only as good as the data provided I would think.

dknelson · July 18th, 2010, 05:57 AM

Chuck,
I have been looking at this for a couple of hours this morning and have about come to the conclusion that the problem has something to do with how the program is manipulating the data.

Most all of the Canadian codes are entered properly with negative values on the longitude. This seems to be screwing up the calculations.

I also see that even the US data that SHOULD be negative values is actually positive values in the database. For example, the data base shows for Watson, Louisiana a Latitude of 30.58561 and a Longitude of 90.93934. The actual longitude is really -90.93934.

That tells me that the software is not using the negatives and is somehow working on what is actually an incorrect positive value. HOWEVER...the Canadian values that I have added are using the correctly entered negative values and the software is screwing up those calculations.

Don

Badger · July 18th, 2010, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck S

well 4.03 has any of the code changes I noted to make it work. Last chance I saw your site it worked as long as the zipcodes you entered where the correct case.

Hmmmm ...

I tried the correct case thing that you pointed out earlier, but I couldn't seem to get it working with Canadian codes, although the U.S. ones work fine.

First thing I'll do is upgrade to 4.03 (hope I don't screw up the site ..

), then I'll try it again.

I see Don is back and has posted in this thread as well, so I'll follow that conversation as well.

Thanks to both of you for all you help. You guys have gone way above and beyond to help us and it's been appreciated.

Regards,
Doug

dknelson · July 18th, 2010, 06:05 AM

I just verified this by going into the database and removing the "-" from the longitude of one of the Canadian zip codes. I then entered that zipcode in my classifieds and it finally showed the correct distance.

So, it appears to be the negative values that is causing the issue. I suppose the solution will be to remove the negative from all the longitudes. Although that is technically incorrect.

dknelson · July 18th, 2010, 07:13 AM

I have created new .csv files for the Canadian codes. I have removed the negative values. They are uploaded to my database and seem to be working correctly. There are some distances that are not correct as there are with the USA codes as well. I'm not sure what causes that as I have been looking at it this morning and I selected two locations that are showing incorrect mileage. I verified the coordinates with my GPS and they are entered correctly but still the distances are incorrect. That is true with some USA locations and also is happening with some Canadian locations.

At any rate, the files have been updated and should work. You can download them HERE.

I will leave them there until you have time to download them.

dknelson · July 18th, 2010, 07:29 AM

Here is an example of an incorrect distance. This happens very frequently and I don't know why.

If I enter the zipcode for Oberlin, OH 44074, it shows a distance of 100 miles to Milledgeville, GA zipcode 31061. I have verified the coordinates of both of those zipcodes in the database and they are correct. The distance is actually about 795 miles. Any idea what is causing these inaccuracies?

Chuck S · July 18th, 2010, 10:14 AM

I would suspect the lat and lon calculations on various zipcodes is incorrect which is why I said the distance is only as good as the data

auction - PhotoPost Classifieds

Example buckland alaska to ga is about 5.274 miles so the calculation does work for most. I have tried a few far away middle and close by and all calculations seem fine but every now and then I find one thats wonky like you posted but I dont think its a code thing.

Badger · July 18th, 2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dknelson

At any rate, the files have been updated and should work. You can download them HERE.

I will leave them there until you have time to download them.

Thanks Don ...

I've downloaded the new zip file, but I don't know how to import it into our database and upgraded the old zip codes that are there. Give me a coffee break and you have to retrain me...

I have just upgraded to v4.03 (I hope ..

) being very careful to replace just the files that Chuck indicated were new.

Chuck kindly imported your last database, so perhaps when he's back on-line and if he has the time, he can do this one, then I'll test it again.

Appreciate your efforts...

Regards,
Doug

dknelson · July 18th, 2010, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck S

I would suspect the lat and lon calculations on various zipcodes is incorrect which is why I said the distance is only as good as the data

auction - PhotoPost Classifieds

Example buckland alaska to ga is about 5.274 miles so the calculation does work for most. I have tried a few far away middle and close by and all calculations seem fine but every now and then I find one thats wonky like you posted but I dont think its a code thing.

Maybe, but in the example I gave you, I verified that the data entered in the database for Lon and Lat for Oberlin, OH and Milledgeville, GA are correct but it is still returning an incorrect distance.

Chuck S · July 18th, 2010, 10:32 AM

Like I said I cant explain why 1 in 10 or 20 tries does not work. I can only summarize the data must be wrong.

If you know where to get accurate lat and lon of zipcodes let me know.

dknelson · July 18th, 2010, 11:14 AM

Chuck,
I don't want to beat this horse to death and apparently you and I aren't communicating very well. What I'm saying is that in the example I have given you between Oberlin, OH and Milledgeville, GA, the data is NOT wrong. I've verified the latitude and longitude by three different methods, Microsoft Streets, My Garmin GPS and my looking them up online. The data in the database is correct for BOTH locations but it is still giving the wrong calculation on the mileage.

I can live with it but there is a problem somewhere.

I'll leave this alone now and not bother you with it again unless I find the answer.

Badger · July 20th, 2010, 07:13 PM

Hi Chuck ...

Did you receive an email from me about this?

Thanks partner ...

Regards,
Doug

Chuck S · July 21st, 2010, 07:46 AM

there is nothing I can suggest. what I have said already is I can not say why maybe one in twenty or one in 40 is wrong. I mean come on the zipcode data is like 74000 entries and most are accurate.

Badger · July 21st, 2010, 08:57 AM

Hi Chuck ...

I understood your point, but that's not what I sent the email about.

Regards,
Doug

Chuck S · July 21st, 2010, 10:29 AM

well I will check to see if I have one.

Badger · July 28th, 2010, 06:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck S

well I will check to see if I have one.

Emailed it a second time...

Did it arrive?

Thanks for your hep Chuck ...

Regards,
Doug

Chuck S · July 28th, 2010, 06:57 AM

Did you not say you where sending a mod request?

If you are sending more work let me know so I can provide a proper quote.

Badger · July 28th, 2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck S

Did you not say you where sending a mod request?

If you are sending more work let me know so I can provide a proper quote.

Sent to your previous email address on this subject ...

Thanks Chuck ...

Regards,
Doug

Chuck S · July 28th, 2010, 04:02 PM

As far as zipcodes I beleive your issue on distances is the free us postal code database does not have negative numbers on lon so maybe getting a cheap paid us postcode database would give accurate distance calculations.