Step 1 - Test Address Data
For the sortation software test you must use the latest test address data and Royal Mail Selection Files 2013 Release 1, which came into effect on 07th May 2019. A copy of the Royal Mail Selection Files is included with the test address data.
File Formats
The Test Address Data are "plain text" (ASCII) files supplied in either comma delimited or fixed field width formats.
In Comma Delimited Format all trailing spaces are removed from fields which are then enclosed in quotation marks and separated by commas.
In Fixed Field Width Format as each field is of fixed width it occupies the same position within records of the file. There are no special characters used to delimit fields.
For both of these formats, records are terminated by Carriage Return (ASCII: 13) and Line Feed (ASCII: 10) characters.
Test Address Data Record Structure
| Field Name | Field Width* |
|---|---|
| Name | 40 |
| Address 1 | 40 |
| Address 2 | 40 |
| Address 3 | 40 |
| Address 4 | 40 |
| Address 5 | 40 |
| Address 6 | 40 |
| Postcode | 8 |
| Delivery Point Suffix** | 2 |
| Weight Indicator*** | 1 |
* For comma delimited format, the Field Width represents the maximum field width
** The Delivery Point Suffix (DPS) is used on the low sort (Barcode) tests only
*** Weight Indicator: this data is required for Mixed Weight option only
There is no designated Post Town field.