Geocode Matching Options
You can use the options in the Matching category to set match criteria and restrictions so that the matching can be as strict or relaxed as you need. The following sections cover the matching global defaults options, which are available for all countries, and the country-specific matching options, which apply to a subset of countries.
For instructions on setting global default values in Management Console, see Setting Global Defaults in Management Console.
For instructions on setting global default values in Enterprise Designer, see Setting Global Defaults in Enterprise Designer.
In Management Console, you can add overrides to global defaults for matching on a country-specific basis. Once the overrides are set and enabled, they apply to all data flows that use the Global Geocoding stage. This functionality is not supported in Enterprise Designer. For more information see Setting Country Overrides.
Matching Options
Option Name | Country Support | Description |
---|---|---|
Match Mode | All | Match modes determine the leniency used to make a
match between the input address and the reference data. Select a
match mode based on the quality of your input and your desired
output. The following match modes are available:
|
USA | The USA has the following additional match modes. These are
available as options even when the global defaults option is set to
one of the match modes listed above.
|
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Custom Mode Must Match Fields | All | These options set the match criteria for determining match
candidates. To enable these options, you must set the
Match Mode to
Custom. By default, these options are
disabled. Note: For USA, the Custom Mode Must Match fields are
not supported in single-line processing.
In Management Console, you can create country-specific overrides for these options only for those countries that have Match Mode overrides that are set to Custom.
|
Country-Specific Matching Options
There are additional matching options for specific countries that can be enabled. These are not overrides, but simply additional options.
Option Name | Country Support | Description |
---|---|---|
Force postal match | AUS | Results in a match when the postal code matches even though the city/suburb does not match. Default = disabled. |
Force LDU match | CAN | When enabled, does not return any matches that do not have the full FSA LDU postal code. Default = disabled. |
Search Criteria | USA |
These options set the search constraints to use when matching. These can assist in finding a match when the input address contains limited or inaccurate city or ZIP Code information.
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Conflicting Input | USA |
|
Find Options | USA |
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USA-only Match Modes: Interactive and CASS Modes
The following sections provide more in-depth information about the two additional USA match modes, Interactive and CASS.
Interactive Match Mode (USA only)
Interactive mode is designed for interactive mobile/web applications. In this use case, it is expected that users may enter single-line addresses that contain misspelled, inaccurate, and/or missing information, so this input is processed utilizing a looser set of criteria for matching than the other match modes. As a result, the matching output could include multiple match candidates. The list of matches would be presented to the user who could then select the desired match candidate. If an exact match is found, then that single match candidate is returned; a mix of accurate and inaccurate results are not presented.
- Interactive match mode is only available in single-line address processing. If an attempt is made to run a non-single-line address when the match mode is set to Interactive, the match mode is temporarily changed to Relaxed and the address is processed in relaxed mode. When the matching process completes, the match mode is automatically reverted back to Interactive.
- Interactive match mode allows users to break the cardinal rule: If the user enters 123 S Main and there is only 123 N Main, a match is made with a match code that reflects the modified directional.
- Interactive match mode handles cases where users transpose pre-directionals with postdirectionals without penalty.
- Interactive match mode ignores the Prefer Zip over City setting. When the city and ZIP Code don't match correctly, the best geocoding result will be returned based on an analysis of all the input address elements.
- When operating in interactive mode, in cases where a point address or interpolated street address result cannot be determined, the most accurate level of ZIP-9, ZIP-7 or ZIP-5 centroid available may be returned.
CASS Match Mode (USA only)
The CASS match mode imposes additional rules to ensure compliance with the USPS CASS regulations. The purpose of this match mode is to create mailable addresses for USPS mailing discounts. Use this mode to standardize your input for mailing. This mode generates a large number of match candidates.
The CASS match mode deviates from the other modes in its processing. This mode does not perform intersection, building name, or spatial alias (TIGER, TomTom, HERE street name alias or Centrus alias) or matches to User Dictionaries. It does not match to candidates from data sources that do not have USPS equivalent records. This mode recognizes and parses two unit numbers on the same address line, for example a building and unit number.