Postal Code Conversion File [Canada], December 2003, Census of Canada 2001

The Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF) is a digital file which provides a correspondence between the Canada Post Corporation (CPC) six-character postal code and Statistics Canada's standard geographic areas for which census data and other statistics are produced. Through the link between postal codes and standard geographic areas, the PCCF permits the integration of data from various sources. The Single Link Indicator provides one best link for every postal code, as there are multiple records for many postal codes. To obtain the postal code conversion file or for questions, consult the DLI contact at your educational institution. The geographic coordinates attached to each postal code on the PCCF are commonly used to map the distribution of data for spatial analysis (e.g., clients, activities). The location information is a powerful tool for planning, or research purposes. In April 1983, the Geography Division released the first version of the Postal Code Conversion File, which linked postal codes to census geographic areas and included geographic coordinates. Since then, the file has been updated on a regular basis to reflect postal code changes provided by Canada Post Corporation. Every five years, the postal code linkages on the Postal Code Conversion File are “converted” to the latest census geographic areas. The original Postal Code Conversion File was linked to the 1981 Census geographic areas. Since then, the Postal Code Conversion File has undergone four “conversions”, following the 1986, 1991, 1996 and 2001 censuses. A revised automated system was used for the 1996-2001 conversion. The 2001 Census postal codes reported by respondents were used to validate the Postal Code Conversion File links.

邮政编码转换文件（Postal Code Conversion File，PCCF）是一个数字文件，用于建立加拿大邮政公司（Canada Post Corporation，CPC）的六位邮政编码与加拿大统计局（Statistics Canada）标准地理区域之间的对应关系——这些地理区域是人口普查数据及其他统计数据的生成基础。借助邮政编码与标准地理区域的关联，PCCF支持来自不同数据源的数据整合。单链接指示器（Single Link Indicator）为每个邮政编码提供一个最优链接，因为许多邮政编码对应多条记录。如需获取邮政编码转换文件或咨询相关问题，请联系您所在教育机构的DLI联系人。PCCF中每个邮政编码附带的地理坐标常用于绘制数据分布图，以支持空间分析（例如客户分布、活动分布）。这些位置信息是规划或研究工作的有力工具。1983年4月，地理部门发布了邮政编码转换文件的首个版本，该版本将邮政编码与人口普查地理区域关联，并包含地理坐标。此后，该文件定期更新，以反映加拿大邮政公司提供的邮政编码变更信息。每五年，邮政编码转换文件中的邮政编码关联会"转换"至最新的人口普查地理区域。最初的邮政编码转换文件关联的是1981年人口普查地理区域。此后，随着1986年、1991年、1996年及2001年人口普查的开展，邮政编码转换文件经历了四次"转换"。1996-2001年的转换使用了经修订的自动化系统。2001年人口普查中受访者上报的邮政编码被用于验证邮政编码转换文件的关联准确性。