Using GeoStan match modes

 Match modes determine the leniency used to make a match between your input and the reference data. Select a match mode based on the quality of your input and your desired output. For example, if you have an input database that is prone to errors, you may want to select the relaxed match mode.

The following match modes are available:

Mode

Description

Exact

Requires a very tight match. This restrictive mode generates the fewest match candidates, which decreases the processing time. When using this mode, ensure that your input is very clean; free of misspellings and incomplete addresses.

Close

Default. Requires a close match and generates a moderate number of match candidates.

CASS

Imposes additional rules to ensure compliance with the USPS CASS regulations. The purpose of this match mode is to create mailable addresses for USPS mailing discounts. Use this mode to standardize your input for mailing. This mode generates a large number of match candidates.

CASS mode deviates from the other modes in its processing. This mode does not perform intersection, building name, or spatial alias (TIGER, TomTom, HERE, street name alias or Centrus alias) or matches to User Dictionaries or auxiliary files. It does not match to candidates from data sources that do not have USPS equivalent records. This mode recognizes and parses two unit numbers on the same address line, for example a building and unit number.

Relaxed

Allows a loose match and generates the most match candidates, which increases the processing time and results in more multiple matches. Use this mode if you are not confident that your input is clean; free of misspellings and incomplete addresses. This mode recognizes and parses two unit numbers on the same address line, for example a building and unit number. This is mode does not respect the range parity when making an address match.

Interactive

Available in singleline address matching only. This mode is designed to better handle the specific matching challenges presented by interactive matching. Interactive mode permits for more flexible matching patterns and may, in some cases, return additional possible matches than relaxed match mode. This mode recognizes and parses two unit numbers on the same address line, for example a building and unit number. This is mode does not respect the range parity when making an address match.

Custom

Allows applications to specify individual "must match" field matching rules for address number, addressline, city, ZIP Code, state.
Note: Match modes are only used in forward geocoding; the match mode setting is ignored in reverse geocoding.

Interactive match mode

Interactive mode is designed for interactive mobile/web applications. In this use case, it is expected that users may enter singleline addresses that contain misspelled, inaccurate, and/or missing information, so GeoStan processes this input utilizing a looser set of criteria for matching than the other match modes. As a result, the matching output could include multiple match candidates. The list of matches would be presented to the user who could then select the desired match candidate. If an exact match is found, then that single match candidate is returned; a mix of accurate and inaccurate results are not presented. The following table shows a comparison of the match results when running in interactive vs. close or relaxed modes.

Singleline input address

Interactive mode match candidates

Close/Relaxed mode single match candidate

HIGHLAND VIEW WINCHESTER 01890

5 HIGHLAND VIEW AVE, WINCHESTER, MA 01890

5 HIGHLAND TER,WINCHESTER, MA 01890

5 HIGHLAND AVE,WINCHESTER, MA 01890

5 HIGHLAND VIEW AVE,WINCHESTER, MA 01890

414 PINE WILLIAMSFIELD 61489

414 N PINE ST,WILLIMAMSFIELD, IL 61849

414 PINE ST,WILLIAMSFIELD, IL 61489

414 N PINE ST,WILLIMAMSFIELD, IL 61849

46 HORNBEAM ST CRANSTON RI

(conflict with street type)

46 HORNBEAM  DR,CRANSTON, RI

46 HORNBINE ST,CRANSTON, RI

611 W 13TH JOPLIN MO 64801

(conflict between directional and ZIP Code)

611 E 13TH ST,JOPLIN, MO 64801

611 W 13TH ST,JOPLIN, MO 64804

611 W 13TH ST,JOPLIN, MO 64804

Capabilities and restrictions

The capabilities and restrictions of Interactive match mode are as follows:

  • Interactive match mode is only available in singleline address processing. If an attempt is made to run a non-singleline address when the match mode is set to GS_MODE_INTERACTIVE, the match mode is temporarily changed to GS_MODE_RELAX and the address is processed in relaxed mode. When the matching process completes, the match mode is automatically reverted back to GS_MODE_INTERACTIVE.

  • Interactive match mode allows users to break the cardinal rule: If the user enters 123 S Main and there is only 123 N Main, a match is made and GS_SUCCESS is returned with a match code that reflects the modified directional.

  • Interactive match mode handles cases where users transpose predirectionals with postdirectionals without penalty.

  • Interactive match mode ignores the GS_FIND_PREFER_ZIP_OVER_CITY setting. When the city and ZIP Code don't match correctly, the best geocoding result will be returned based on an analysis of all the input address elements.

  • When operating in interactive mode, in cases where a point address or interpolated street address result cannot be determined, the most accurate level of  ZIP-9, ZIP-7 or ZIP-5 centroid available may be returned.

To enable interactive match mode, use the following:

C

Set GS_MODE_INTERACTIVE in the GS_FIND_MATCH_MODE property.

COBOL

Set GS-MODE-INTERACTIVE in GsSetMatchMode.

JAVA

Set MODE_INTERACTIVE in the GeoStanBase.MatchMode class.

.NET

Set GS_MODE_INTERACTIVE in the GeoStan.MatchMode class.