PAF File Structure - Residential Example

Royal Mail Certified Partner PAF comes as a RAW formatted file. The file requires a great deal of manipulation and correction before it can be released to end users in a structure that makes sense. After several weeks of processing we release the file to our end user customers in a structure that can easily be used in their applications. The main fields are:

- Organisation name	- Street
- Department Name	- Double Dependent Locality
- PO Box	- Dependent Locality
- Building Name	- Post Town
- Sub Building Name	- Postcode
- Thoroughfare	- Postcode Type *****
*****Signifies address has an organisation associated with it "S"=small user "L"=large user

Example:

Field on PAF	Fictional Residential Example
Sub Building	*
Building Name	**
PO BOX	***
Building Number	16
Thoroughfare	VIXEN ROAD
Post Town	BRADOCK
Postcode	KT6 5BT

You won’t find the names of private individuals on PAF, except in instances where he only method of identifying a Delivery Point. Any surnames on PAF will be in brackets (-) in the building or Sub Building name fields. Business Only ***** PO BOX are all classified as Large User Postcodes.

PAF Layouts Examples

Data Record / Field Layout Table;
Organisation Layout Example
Residential Layout Example
Surname Layout Example