Postal Code Conversion File [Canada], October 1999, Census of Canada 1996

The Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF) is a digital file, which provides a correspondence between the six character postal code and Statistics Canada's standard geographical 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 co-ordinates 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 marketing, 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 PCCF are “converted” to the latest census geographic areas. The original PCCF was linked to the 1981 Census geographic areas. Since then, the PCCF has undergone three “conversions”, following the 1986, 1991 and 1996 censuses. An automated system was developed for the 1991-1996 conversion. Also, for the first time, the 1996 Census reported postal codes were used to validate the PCCF links.邮政编码转换文件（Postal Code Conversion File，PCCF）是一种数字文件，可实现六位字符邮政编码与加拿大统计局（Statistics Canada）用于发布普查数据及其他统计数据的标准地理区域之间的对应关系。通过邮政编码与标准地理区域之间的关联，PCCF可实现多源数据的整合。由于多数邮政编码对应多条记录，单链接指示器（Single Link Indicator）可为每个邮政编码提供一条最优关联结果。若需获取该邮政编码转换文件或有相关疑问，请咨询所在教育机构的DLI联络人。PCCF中每个邮政编码附带的地理坐标，常被用于绘制数据分布图谱以开展空间分析（如客户分布、活动场景分布等）。该位置信息是用于营销、规划或研究场景的强有力工具。1983年4月，加拿大统计局地理处发布了首个版本的邮政编码转换文件，该版本实现了邮政编码与普查地理区域的关联，并纳入了地理坐标信息。自此之后，该文件会定期更新，以适配加拿大邮政公司（Canada Post Corporation）提供的邮政编码变更信息。每五年，PCCF中的邮政编码关联关系会被“转换”至最新的普查地理区域版本。初始版本的PCCF关联的是1981年普查的地理区域。此后，PCCF先后在1986年、1991年和1996年三次普查后完成了三次“转换”更新。1991年至1996年的转换工作开发了自动化系统以支撑相关流程。此外，1996年普查上报的邮政编码首次被用于验证PCCF的关联关系准确性。