HOW TO

Increase the number of matches in the Geocoding Match Results?

Procedure

ArcView assumes that the geocodable theme's attribute table is in standard format. Geocoding match scores may be unexpectedly low if the attribute table does not conform to the standard. Standard format requires each address component to be stored in separate fields and that each address component uses abbreviation standards.
Depending on the geocoding style being used, the table should include some of the following fields, Predirection, Pretype, Street Name, Post Direction, Post Type, Zone. Abbreviation standards include; "AVE" for Avenue, "ST" for Street, "RD" for Road, "PK" for Pike, "E" for East, etc.


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ArcView comes with a sample script that will help you standardize the geocodable theme's attribute table. This sample script has two requirements:

A. All address information, except for the address range numbers, must be in the same field.
B. The attribute table must contain a unique ID field.

The script will parse out information in the address field to the appropriate component fields using the predefined abbreviation standards. The new fields are then dumped to a new table. The new table is joined to the original table
based on the unique ID field.

If the attribute table does not have a unique ID field do the following.

Otherwise skip.

1. Start editing the theme table.
2. Add a new number field to the table and name it "Join."
3. With the new number field active, select 'Calculate' from the Field menu.
4. In the Field Calculator dialog box, type 'rec' in the large rectangular box
at the bottom of the dialog.
5. Click OK.
6. Stop editing and save edits.

If the text portion of the address is not in the same field do the following.

Otherwise skip.

1. Start editing the theme table.
2. Add a new string field to the table and name it TempAdd.
3. With the new string field active select 'Calculate' from the Field menu.
4. In the Field Calculator double click on each field storing address information. Follow each field by a "++." For example:
[Pre_Type] + + [Street_nam] + + [Street_typ]
5. Click OK.
6. Stop editing the table, making sure to save the changes.
7. The TempAdd field should be populated with the text portion of the address information. Each component should be separated by a space.

Using the sample script.

1. Create a new empty script by selecting the Script icon from the Project Window and clicking the New button
2. From the Script menu select 'Load text file . . ."
3. Navigate to the "..\esri\av_gis30\arcview\samples\scripts" directory and select the stanshpe.ave file.
4. Select 'Compile' from the Script menu.
5. Adjust the widows so that both the street database attribute table and the script can be seen at the same time.
6. Make the table active.
7. Click directly onto the script window.
8. Select 'Run' from the Script' menu.
9. Choose a join and address field.
10. The script will standardize the address into new fields and join them to the existing table.
11. Rebuild the geocoding index based on the new fields.

Article ID:000001530

Software:
  • Legacy Products

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