Barcoding tools & information guides
PAF timetable
The PAF (Postal Address File) is a database of Australian postal addresses within our delivery network and is available through your AMAS software. A condition of the PreSort Letters service is that the DPIDs contained within the barcodes are current against the current version of the PAF. Updates to the PAF are released quarterly according to the table below.
The following table details the dates when each version of the PAF file is available and the date which it expires.
| PAF version | PAF Issue Date | PAF Expiry Date |
|---|---|---|
| VYYYY.1 | 15 November | 31 March |
| VYYYY.2 | 28 February | 30 June |
| VYYYY.3 | 31 May | 30 September |
| VYYYY.4 | 31 August | 31 December |
| VYYYY.5 | 15 November | 31 January |
Note #1: The following naming convention is used. "V" stands for Version, "YYYY" refers to the cycle year number. The PAF is released quarterly.
Note #2: PAF Issue Date - Date by which end users must have received the PAF Version from their AMAS supplier. It is permissible for end users to commence using the PAF as soon as it is received.
Note #3: The PAF is issued to the AMAS developers 4 weeks prior to the PAF Issue Date
Note #4: PAF Expiry Date - the expiry date of the PAF for appending DPIDs. Any DPIDs used in mail lodgements must be current against the latest version of the PAF.
Note #5: PAF YYYY.5 is a contingency version of the PAF which allows customers additional time for integration of new cycle software. It is only made available to approved customers upon written request.
Reed Solomon Algorithm Programming Codes
Download examples of the Reed Solomon algorithm in Visual Basic, ANSIC and COBOL programming codes*
- Visual Basic programming code (zip 1.83mb)
- ANSI C programming code (zip 8kb)
- COBOL programming code (zip 14kb)
*Disclaimer
Whilst Australia Post provides these programs in good faith, no responsibility is taken as to their accuracy. The programs are provided for guidance only. Australia Post shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of, or reliance placed on, any information provided.
Standard Address Abbreviations
Using incorrect abbreviations is a common error in databases and can result in either no match or the incorrect assignment of DPID when fed through AMAS software. The Standard Address Component Abbreviations file details the address component abbreviations and can be used in address verification processes to ensure you are not being denied a DPID through poorly formatted addresses.
Hints & tips to improve your match rate
The barcoding hints and tips guide can assist you to format your address data correctly and identify ways to improve your barcoding match rate.
Recent additions to the PAF
The PAF is released every 3 months and as a result, there can be a delay in accessing addresses that have been added between the quarterly releases. These additions can be a result of new properties being established, or the discovery of addresses that had been missing from the PAF.
Download PAF_New_Addresses_Unformatted (zip 1.4mb)
Download PAF_New_Addresses_Formatted (zip 1.19mb)
These address additions are provided on a monthly basis as a means to assist in address verification, pending the arrival of the latest PAF update from your AMAS software supplier.
PAF Postcode File
The PAF Postcode File (csv 1.09mb) is provided for anyone who wishes to validate the suburb and postcode of an address record prior to matching against the PAF. This file is available from AMAS software suppliers or may be downloaded below.
The above file is based on the same file structure as the full postcode file available at: http://auspost.com.au/apps/postcode.html. However it only contains Localities contained in the latest version of the PAF.
PAF News
PAF News the second release of the 2010 AMAS Cycle contains statistics and information relating to PAF 2010.4 (pdf 99kb).