Geocoded PostCode Database Leaked Online

Darren · Last edited by Darren on Sat Sep 19, 2009 1:52 pm; edited 1 time in total

A database containing 1.8 million Post Codes with geocoded Lat/Lon locations and grid references has been leaked by Wikileaks, the whistleblower website.

The source of the 240mb file is unclear but it does not contain any names or addresses unlike the full Royal Mail PostCode Address File (PAF).

There have been many calls for the PAF data to be made available by businesses and freedom of information campaigners. The Royal Mail charge a hefty licence fee for access to the database containing the full name and address information but even this cut down version might prove very useful to satnav manufacturers not that we're suggesting they would use data from an unknown source such as this!

Wikileaks are even offering the database, in all it's 100,000 page glory as a compressed 20mb file and have even seeded it via Torrent Sites. Given the dubious nature of the data and the unknown source this may be a step too far for the whistle blower premise of the web site?
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Darren Griffin

Wazza_G · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 6:24 pm Post subject:

I downloaded a copy before it's removed, so should anyone want it...

pcaouolte · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject:

Downloaded it Very Happy

Now I just need to work out how to convert 1.8million locations into a POI file that I can use with a satnav. Confused

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Paul

253 · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject:

Yep, downloaded it as well.

Have no idea what I'm going to do with it though.
Probably delete it in three months time like the rest of the stuff that seems like a good idea at the time, but just clutters up the place.
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Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100.

navver · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 8:32 pm Post subject:

I guess you'd need to load it into Excel, then remove all the unwanted fields by deleting columns, then save it as a .TXT file.
Then load into POIEDIT then save in the format you want to use eg Tomtom OV2.
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Tomtom Go520, App 8.010, Map UK&ROI 810.1870

Ray4438 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Nov 08, 2005 Posts: 3

Can u tell me what program opens it after un zipping it.

Oldboy · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject:

I don't know if the later versions of Excel can handle 1.8 million rows but previous versions could only load 65,535 Sad

It's not only the excess columns that need removing, there's also the problem of blank cells where the lat/long has not been provided. Presumably due to that particular Postcode not being used.
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Richard

TT 910 V7.903: Europe Map v1045
TT Via 135 App 12.075: Europe Map v1140

Ray4438 · Occasional Visitor Joined: Nov 08, 2005 Posts: 3

And how to open it?

navver · Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:03 pm Post subject:

I managed to open it with wordpad. Not sure if that will add format characters.

I had a postcode POI for my Mavman 635. That was split into many different files, broken down by area such as "Southwest" and each area was split into 2 or 3 files.

You could do the same in word pad, then load into excel, unless someone can write a utility to remove the unwanted columns.
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Tomtom Go520, App 8.010, Map UK&ROI 810.1870

JockTamsonsBairn · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:14 am Post subject:

BigPerk · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:35 am Post subject:

navver - interested in your comment about txt files and POIEdit. Unfortunately I'm not very clued up on POIEdit, so I (thought I) had a problem when I was trying to use a txt file output from OpenOffice because POIEdit didn't show txt as an input file type option, so I assumed I couldn't use it. (I wanted to convert to asc).

Can you enlighten me please Sad

?
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David
(Navigon 70 Live, Nuvi 360)

Oldboy · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:40 am Post subject:

253 · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:24 am Post subject:

I'm on a Mac, opened the file using Text Edit no problem.
Have Microsoft Excel (Office 2008), but no way could I copy across, not even when I chopped it up into what I thought were smal lumps.

Didn't have a lot of time last night, but will spend a bit longer tonight.
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Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100.

mikealder · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:36 am Post subject:

I might run it through some software I have on the PC later and break it down into each County which should make the size more managable, I can also filter out those unused/ blank codes at the same time - Mike

MaFt · Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 8:53 am Post subject:

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