hi all,

I desperately need to find out how I can obtain a database or other file containing all UK post codes and some other info (Maybe grid ref) so i can calculate distance between 2 postcodes.

Any ideas where i can find something like that?  Or does anyone know any other way of doing it???

Thanks again

Hi Mate, thanks for that.

Erm, about that cash, lol.  They will be cutting my net off soon so i will have to dis....

PS: Check out: http://www.jibble.org/ukpostcodes/postcodes.zip - http://www.jibble.org/ukpostcodes/postcodes.zip

oh im cut of....

confused now, cant work it out.

Take this post code example....

How many miles is each grid ref?  Or each 1 point on the lat/long scale???

Can anyone explain the grid ref and what each of the numbers mean? Do u have to break it down into 2 3-number sections?  If now, how far would, for example, 010000 be in miles?

Thankies

excellent, think ive got it!

try my example/test.... http://www.rochdaleoffroad.co.uk/pcdistance.asp - www.rochdaleoffroad.co.uk/pcdistance.asp

Lookup to far away point in autoroute, for example TR19 and KW1, should be 588 miles.

Below is the script for the whole page....

<% if NOT request("calc")="" then 
set conn=Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
conn.Provider="Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0"
conn.Open Server.MapPath("******")
set rs=Server.CreateObject("ADODB.recordset")
sql="SELECT * FROM tblPC WHERE pc ='" & request("pc1") & "'"
rs.Open sql, conn
do until rs.EOF
  for each entry in rs.Fields
x1=rs("lon")
y1=rs("lat")
     next
  rs.MoveNext
loop
  rs.close
  conn.close
set conn=Server.CreateObject("ADODB.Connection")
conn.Provider="Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0"
conn.Open Server.MapPath("/_private/postcodes.mdb")
set rs=Server.CreateObject("ADODB.recordset")
sql="SELECT * FROM tblPC WHERE pc ='" & request("pc2") & "'"
rs.Open sql, conn
do until rs.EOF
  for each entry in rs.Fields
x2=rs("lon")
y2=rs("lat")
     next
  rs.MoveNext
loop
  rs.close
  conn.close

xdif = 69.1 * (y2 - y1) 
ydif = 69.1 * (x2 - x1) * cos(y1/57.3) 
miles=SQR(xdif *xdif +ydif *ydif )

response.write "x1= " & x1& "<BR>"
response.write "y1= " & y1& "<BR>"
response.write "x2= " & x2& "<BR>"
response.write "y2= " & y2& "<BR>"
response.write "xdif = " & xdif & "<BR>"
response.write "ydif = " & ydif & "<BR>"
 
response.write "<P>" & miles & " miles" & "<hr>"
end if
%>
<form method="POST" action="pcdistance.asp">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Enter first part of post codes (e.g, OL11 for OL11 3RF)</p>
  <p>From postcode: <input type="text" name="pc1" size="4"><br>
  To postcode: <input type="text" name="pc2" size="4"><br>
  <input type="submit" value="Calculate mileage (Crows path)" name="calc"></p>
</form>

oh bloody hell, im moving!

:-)

Where r u? Im in Rochdale

Mattblack wrote: oh bloody hell, im moving! :-) Where r u? Im in Rochdale

Thats about right, I live in Macclesfield.

I have a file containing more accurate grid refs if its any use. Going to RH19 1 accuracy, (so can diffienticate between RH19 1 and RH19 2)

As to Grid Refs they are in meter units, east and north from a point off the Sillily Isles. Using Pythagoras on these units you get a exact measurement in meters  which can be easily converted to miles (rather than the one on lat/long which you approximate to miles).

Also Grid Refs are based on a flat grid so you don't have to worry about curvature of the earth, to work out the distance between points.

Having said that it depends on the accuray you require.

Barry