US ZIP9 Coder Tool

The US ZIP9 Coder tool associates geographic coordinates with input ZIP9 (also known as ZIP+4) codes in an address file, enabling the user to carry out geography-based analyses. The US ZIP9 Coder appends latitude and longitude, county and state FIPS code, and census tract and block number.

The US ZIP9 Coder tool requires a separate installation located on the Core Data Bundle installation disk.

Configure the tool

ZIP Field: Select the column containing ZIP code data.

If the column contains 9-digit ZIP code, ZIP9 code should be formatted as ZIP5ZIP4: 928661406

  • Deselect Plus4 in a Separate Field.

If the column contains 5-digit ZIP code, ZIP5 code should be formatted as ZIP5: 92866

  • Verify that Plus4 in a Separate Field is selected.
  • Use the drop down to select the column containing the 4 digit ZIP code appendage.

ZIP4 code should be formatted as ZIP4: 1406

Output Fields: Select fields to add to the output data stream.

  • Z9_Census_BLOCK: Appends the Census Block ID that the ZIP9 falls in. (The Census block group code is the first digit of the Census block code)
  • Z9_Census_ID: Depending on the Match Code the record was coded to, the CensusID will go to that level of granularity. Census Block Code being the most granular level.
  • Z9_Census_TRACT: Appends the Census Tract ID that the ZIP9 falls in.
  • Z9_County_FIPS: Appends the County FIPS ID that the ZIP9 falls in.
  • Z9_Latitude: Assigns the Latitude (Y) coordinate to the ZIP9
  • Z9_Longitude: Assigns the Longitude (X) coordinate to the ZIP9
  • Z9_Match_Code: The ZIP level the record was coded to.
  • Z9_Match_Code Description
    9 ZIP 9 Level Coding
    7 ZIP 7 Level Coding
    5 ZIP5 Level Coding
    0 Coding Failure

  • Z9_Point: The spatial object of the ZIP9
  • Z9_Record_Type: describes the type of facility the ZIP9 code represents.

  • Type Description
    H High-rise
    F Firm
    S Street Delivery
    R Rural Route/Highway Contract
    P Post Office
    G General Delivery
    Z TeleAtlas designated 5-digit ZIP

  • Z9_State_FIPS: Appends the State FIPS ID that the ZIP9 falls in.
  • Appending information

    The ZIP9 Coder only appends the above information to existing ZIP9 or ZIP+4 codes. It does not determine the correct ZIP9 or ZIP+4 code for the input address. The input data must already contain the correct ZIP9 or ZIP+4 codes.

    If you use the CASS Tool to determine the correct ZIP5 and ZIP+4 codes for the input address, you can then use the ZIP 9 Coder to assign a point object to the results.