Postal Code Conversion File Plus [Canada], Version 5A, September 2007, Census of Canada 2006

<p>The PCCF+ is a SAS© control program and set of associated datasets derived from the PCCF, a 2006 postal code<sup>OM</sup> population weight file, the Geographic Attribute File, Health Region boundary files, and other supplementary data. PCCF+ automatically assigns a range of Statistics Canada standard geographic areas and other geographic identifiers based on postal codes<sup>OM</sup>.</p>
<p>PCCF+ differs from the PCCF in that it:</p>
<ul>
<li>Uses population-weighted random allocation for many postal codes<sup>OM</sup> that link to more than one geographic area.</li>
<li>Options are available for institutional postal codes<sup>OM</sup>.</li>
<li>Procedures are included to link partial postal codes<sup>OM</sup> to geographic identifiers where possible.</li>
<li>Problem records and diagnostics are provided in the program output, along with reference information for possible solutions.</li>
</ul>
<p>The geographic coordinates, which represent the standard geostatistical areas linked to each postal codes<sup>OM</sup> on the PCCF, are commonly used to map the distribution of data for spatial analysis (e.g., clients, activities). In April 1983, the Geography Division released the first version of the PCCF, which linked postal codes to 1981 census geographic areas and included geographic coordinates. PCCF+ was first created using the 1986 census and has been updated regularly with population weight files calculated for each census from 1991 through 2006.</p>
<p>The purpose of the PCCF+ is to provide a link between six-character postal codes<sup>OM</sup> produced by the Canada Post Corporation (CPC), standard 2006 Census geographic areas (such as dissemination areas, census subdivisions, and census tracts) produced by Statistics Canada, and supplementary administrative areas and neighbourhood income quintiles. Postal codes<sup>OM</sup> do not respect census geographic boundaries and so may be linked to more than one standard geographic area, or assigned to more than one set of coordinates. Therefore, one postal code<sup>OM</sup> may be represented by more than one record. The PCCF product, produced by Statistics Canada, provides links between postal codes and all recorded matches to census geography. PCCF+ uses the PCCF but provides additional functionality in that it uses a population-weighted matching process for some residential postal codes<sup>OM</sup> where more than one geographic code is possible. PCCF+ also provides routines for institutional postal codes<sup>OM</sup> and for historic postal codes<sup>OM</sup>. The purpose of this product is <i>not</i> to validate postal codes<sup>OM</sup> or the PCCF.</p>

PCCF+是一款SAS©控制程序及配套数据集集合，其数据源自PCCF（2006年邮政编码^OM人口权重文件）、地理属性文件、卫生区域边界文件及其他补充数据。PCCF+可基于邮政编码^OM自动匹配加拿大统计局（Statistics Canada）标准地理区域集合及其他地理标识符。

PCCF+与PCCF的区别如下：
• 针对多数关联至多个地理区域的邮政编码^OM，采用人口权重随机分配法；
• 为机构类邮政编码^OM提供专属配置选项；
• 增设相关流程，可在可行场景下将部分邮政编码^OM匹配至地理标识符；
• 在程序输出中包含问题记录与诊断信息，并附带可行解决方案的参考资料。

与PCCF中各邮政编码^OM关联的标准地理统计区域对应的地理坐标，常被用于绘制空间分析所需的数据分布地图（如客户、活动分布）。1983年4月，加拿大统计局地理司发布了首个版本的PCCF，该版本将邮政编码与1981年人口普查地理区域进行关联，并附带地理坐标。PCCF+最初基于1986年人口普查数据开发，并于1991年至2006年间，通过各次人口普查生成的人口权重文件进行定期更新。

PCCF+的设计目标是实现加拿大邮政公司（CPC）生成的6位邮政编码^OM、加拿大统计局发布的2006年标准普查地理区域（如普查 dissemination区、普查细分区及普查 tracts），以及补充行政区域与社区收入五分位组之间的关联匹配。由于邮政编码^OM并不遵循普查地理边界规则，因此一个邮政编码^OM可能关联至多个标准地理区域，或被分配至多组坐标。故此，单个邮政编码^OM可能对应多条记录。由加拿大统计局出品的PCCF产品可实现邮政编码与所有已记录的普查地理匹配项之间的关联。PCCF+依托PCCF开发，但新增了多项功能：针对存在多个可选地理编码的住宅类邮政编码^OM，采用人口权重匹配流程；同时还为机构类邮政编码^OM与历史邮政编码^OM提供了配套处理程序。本产品的设计初衷并非用于验证邮政编码^OM或PCCF本身。