Matching

The options in the Matching category allow you to set match criteria and restrictions so that the matching can be as strict or relaxed as you need. The following sections cover the matching global defaults options, which are available for all countries, and the country-specific matching options, which apply to a subset of countries.

Global Defaults

If you modify a global defaults option, then that selection is applied to all countries and cannot be changed on a per-country basis. Subsequently, if you select a country and view its options, the modified global defaults option will be inactive in the GUI.


Option Name	Country Support	Description
Match Mode	All	Match modes determine the leniency used to make a match between the input address and the reference data. Select a match mode based on the quality of your input and your desired output. The following match modes are available: Standard Requires a close match and generates a moderate number of match candidates. Default. 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. 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. Custom Allows you to define the matching criteria by setting Custom Mode Must Match Fields.
Match Mode	USA	The USA has the following additional match modes. These are available as options even when the global defaults option is set to one of the match modes listed above. Interactive Available in single-line 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. For more information, see the section Interactive Match Mode below. 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. For more information, see the section CASS Match Mode below.
Custom Mode Must Match Fields	All	These options set the match criteria for determining match candidates. To enable these options, you must set the Match Mode to `Custom`. Address Number A match must be made to the input address number. Default = disabled. Street A match must be made to the input street name, type and directional fields. Default = disabled. Postcode A match must be made to the input address postcode. Default = disabled. City/Town Subdivision A match must be made to the input address city/town subdivision. Default = disabled. Note: This option is not supported by USA. City/Town A match must be made to the input address city/town. Default = disabled. State/Province Subdivision A match must be made to the input address state/province subdivision. Default = disabled. Note: This option is not supported by USA. State/Province A match must be made to the input address state/province. Default = disabled.

Country-Specific Matching Options


Option Name	Country Support	Description
Force LDU match	CAN	When enabled, does not return any matches that do not have the full FSA LDU postal code. Default = disabled.
Search Criteria	USA	These options set the search constraints to use when matching. These can assist in finding a match when the input address contains limited or inaccurate city or ZIP Code information. Search Area Finance Area Searches the entire Finance Area for possible streets. Default. Note: This option has no effect when performing a ZIP centroid match or a geographic geocode. City Searches the specified city. Search Radius Allows the setting of the search radius distance to use when matching. Search Radius - limit to state Allows for limiting the search to the state. Search Radius Distance When the Search Radius option is selected, this field allows you to enter the search radius distance to use when matching. You can select either miles or kilometers. The max. radius setting is 99 miles/159 kilometers. The default radius distance is 25 meters. Search on first letter of Street Name Specifies whether to look for the correct first letter of a street name if the first letter is missing or incorrect. If selected, Geocode searches through the alphabet looking for the correct first letter to complete the street address. Default = disabled. Note: This option is ignored if the match mode is set to `Exact`. Check for first letter Missing/Wrong Enables extra processing for bad first letter (missing, wrong, etc.). Default = disabled.
Conflicting Input	USA	Prefer Zip over City Prefers candidates matching the input ZIP Code over matches to input city. Default = disabled. Prefer PO box over Street Address If both a street address and a PO Box are provided in the input address, the PO Box is used for matching. Default = disabled. Note: This option is ignored if processing in CASS mode. Firm name lookup Determines whether the preferred lookup is to look for only a street match, the streets first or the firms first. Disabled Do not use firm name matching. Default. Match street only Matches to the address line. Attempt street match first Matches to the address line, if a match is not made, then matches to the `Place Name` line. Attempt firm match first Matches to the `Place Name` line, if a match is not made, then matches to the address line.
Find Options	USA	Building Search on Address Line Attempts to obtain a street address when the input address contains a building name with no suite or unit number. When this option is disabled, Geocode is able to match to building names only if there is a unit number in the input. Default = disabled. Allow Ranged Address Numbers Some business locations are identified by address ranges. For example, a shopping plaza could be addressed as 10-12 Front St. This is how business mail is typically addressed to such a business location. These address ranges can be geocoded to the interpolated mid-point of the range. Default = disabled. Note: Address range matching is not supported in `Exact` or `CASS` match modes, since an address range is not an actual, mailable USPS® address. Street Locator Specifies whether to return a street segment geocode as an automatic geocoding fallback. Default = disabled.

USA-only Match Modes: Interactive and CASS Modes

The following sections provide more in-depth information about the two additional USA match modes, Interactive and CASS.

Interactive Match Mode (USA only)

Interactive mode is designed for interactive mobile/web applications. In this use case, it is expected that users may enter single-line addresses that contain misspelled, inaccurate, and/or missing information, so this input is processed 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 capabilities and restrictions of Interactive match mode are as follows:

Interactive match mode is only available in single-line address processing. If an attempt is made to run a non-single-line address when the match mode is set to INTERACTIVE, the match mode is temporarily changed to RELAXED and the address is processed in relaxed mode. When the matching process completes, the match mode is automatically reverted back to 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 with a match code that reflects the modified directional.
Interactive match mode handles cases where users transpose pre-directionals with postdirectionals without penalty.
Interactive match mode ignores the FIND_PREFER_ZIP_OVER_CITYcustom option. When the city and ZIP Code don't match correctly, the best Geocode 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.

CASS Match Mode (USA only)

The CASS match mode 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.

The CASS match mode deviates from the other modes in its processing. This mode does not perform intersection, building name, or spatial alias (TomTom street name alias or Centrus alias) or matches to User Dictionaries. 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.