ZIP CODE Database

This software product is copyrighted and all rights reserved by HELP 
Software.  HELP Software warrants this software product for a period
of 90 days.  Warranty requests must include invoice number and the 
date of purchase.

The user hereby agrees that regardless of the form of any claim, liability
for any damages or loss incurred because of this product shall not exceed 
the registration fee or purchase price.

Return the manual, disk, and any backup copies to HELP Software if you
decide not to accept this agreement.

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This ZIP Code database was put together for use in database applications.  
It includes the City, State, and ZIP code for over 46,000 locations.  It 
can be used to automatically look up a city and state when a valid ZIP 
Code is entered and insert them into the proper fields in your database 
to increase the speed and accuracy of data entry.

In some cases (usually in the outlying areas of larger cities) a city may 
have both a place name and an official United States Postal Service name.  
In these cases, the official name is used in the ZIP Code database.  In 
future versions, both names may be included.  If this is something that 
you need, please let me know.

These files are current through March of 1992.  If you would like the 
current file you will need to purchase the updated file.  The ZIP Code 
file is updated annually (in March).  Updates can be purchased for $18.00 
each.  See the ORDER.FRM file for more information on purchasing current 
files.  

Included are simple examples for using this database with dBase, 
FoxPro, Clipper, and Microsoft Access.  There is also a stand alone 
program ZIP.EXE which can be used to examine the database and to look up
ZIP Codes or city and state combinations.

If you develop code for use with other database languages or if you 
develop a more sophisticated program that you would like to donate, 
please send it to me.  I would be glad to pass it along to those who may 
have a need for the database, but lack the expertise to develop a program 
for themselves.


You should have the following files:

DEMO.DBF        Required for DEMO.PRG and FOXDEMO.PRG
DEMO.PRG        Demo dBase program to demonstrate lookups
FOXDEMO.PRG     Demo FOXPRO program to demonstrate lookups
ORDER.FRM       Form to order updated ZIP Code Files
README.TXT      This File
ZIPCODES.DBF    ZIP code Database File in dBase format
ZIP.EXE         ZIP code lookup / view program

The ZIP Code file is updated annually (in March).  Updates can be 
purchased for $18.00 each.  See the ORDER.FRM file for more 
information on purchasing updated files.

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USING ZIP.EXE - The ZIP Code Lookup Program

To use the ZIP Code lookup program type ZIP and press enter.  The first 
time that you use ZIP an index will be created to speed up lookups. 
Building the index can take a significant amount of time and disk space.
Building the index took about 4 minutes on my 25MHz 486 machine.  
Fortunately, this only has to be done once.

Once the index is created you will see a view of ZIP Codes, cities, and 
states listed in ZIP Code order.  If you want to change the order that
the ZIP Codes are listed press F2 and you will be able to choose the order
that you wish.  The file can be viewed by ZIP Code, State, City, or State
and City.

If you wish to look up a ZIP code press F3.  You will be prompted for the
ZIP Code that you wish to find.  Enter the ZIP Code and press enter.  If
the ZIP Code is a valid ZIP Code then you will see it immediately, if not
then you will see the closest available ZIP CODE.

If you wish to look up a City, State combination then press F4.  You will
be asked to enter a State and City.  You can enter the State, City, or both
and you will be placed at the appropriate place in the database.  When you
perform a lookup based on City and State, the order of the database will 
automatically be changed (if necessary) to the State and City order.

If, for some reason, you wish to remove some of the records you can mark 
them for deletion by pressing the space bar when the cursor is highlighting
the record.  When you do you will see an asterisk to the far left of the
record.  If you make a mistake simply press the space bar again and the
mark will be removed.  Once you have marked the records that you want to 
delete press F6 and the records will be removed permanently.  This process
can take some time so please be patient.

To quit ZIP press ESCape.

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DBASE III, DBASE IV, CLIPPER, and FOXPRO DEMO PROGRAM

To try the dBase demo program, first load dBase.  At the dot prompt 
type DO DEMO.  The first time that you run this program you will be 
asked if you want to create an index file.  This index file is required to 
perform the lookups.  Just press enter when you are asked this and 
then wait for a few minutes while the index is built.

Next, a data entry screen will appear and you can enter a sample 
record or two.  When you enter a valid ZIP Code, the city and state 
will be looked up and inserted into the city and state fields.

This same program will compile using Clipper as well.

The FOXPRO demo program (FOXDEMO.PRG) works identically to the dBase 
demo program.  Follow the directions listed above.  You will need to 
type DO FOXDEMO instead of DO DEMO.  


Microsoft ACCESS Example

The following example explains how to set up an automatic lookup 
with Microsoft Access.  I would have preferred to distribute the 
database already set up and ready to go, but the size of the resulting 
file made this impractical.

After loading Microsoft Access select NEW DATABASE from the 
FILE MENU.  Name the new database ZIPCODES.MDB and choose 
OK.

Next select IMPORT from the FILE MENU.  For the database type 
choose dBase III.  Select ZIPCODES.DBF for the file to import and 
press the IMPORT button.  It will take a few minutes to 
import the file.  When the import is complete you should see a 
message telling you that the import was successful. Close the IMPORT 
window.

Press the DESIGN button to change the design of the ZIPCODES 
table.  Highlight the ZIPCODE Field by pressing the grayed area 
directly to the left of the ZIPCODE field.  Press the KEY icon to make 
the ZIPCODE field the primary key.  A picture of a key should appear 
next to the ZIPCODE field name. Select SAVE from the FILE MENU 
to save the changes you made and wait a few minutes for the index to 
be created.  Now close the DESIGN window.

Now press the NEW button to create a new table.  Enter the following 
fields into this table:
	
Field Name      Data Type       Field Size

First Name        Text          30 characters
Last Name         Text          30 characters
Address           Text          30 characters
Zip Code          Text           5 characters
City              Text          30 characters
State             Text           2 characters
Phone             Text          10 characters

Select SAVE from the FILE MENU and name the table DATA ENTRY.  When 
you are asked for a primary key just select NO.  Close the NEW TABLE 
window.

Select RELATIONSHIPS from the EDIT MENU.  Make the ZIPCODES table the 
primary table and DATA ENTRY the related table.  The type of the 
relationship should be set to many.

In the SELECT MATCHING FIELDS combo box select ZIP CODE then press the 
ADD button then CLOSE the window.

Next select QUERY from the Database window and select NEW to create a 
new query.  Add both the DATA ENTRY table and the ZIPCODES table.  Next 
double click on the following fields from the DATA ENTRY table to add 
them to the query grid:

	First Name
	Last Name
	Address
	Zip Code

From the ZIPCODES table double click on the City and State fields.

From the DATA ENTRY table double click on the Phone field.

Save the query with the name LOOKUP QUERY and close the query 
window.

Now press the FORM button from the DATABASE WINDOW and then press the 
NEW button to create a new form.  Select LOOKUP QUERY as the query to 
build the FORM from then press the FORM WIZARDS button.

Choose the SINGLE-COLUMN Wizard.  When you are asked which fields you want 
to add to your form press the >> button to move all fields into the new 
form and then press the NEXT button.  Next click on EMBOSSED and then NEXT.

Now press the OPEN button to open the form.  Save the form with the name 
LOOKUP FORM.

Try adding a couple of records.  When you get to the ZIP CODE field try 
punching in your own ZIP Code and let ACCESS look up the city and state 
for you.

If you wish, you can prevent editing in the City and State fields and 
skip over them entirely by changing the ENABLED property of the City and 
State controls in the LOOKUP FORM to NO.

If you have any comments, suggestions, or questions please contact me at:

HELP Software
PO BOX 1423
Raymore, MO 64083
(816) 331-5809
CompuServe 73720,2530