topic Re: Creating a map of defined Postcode Sectors in ArcGIS Mapping and Charting Questions

Creating a map of defined Postcode Sectors

JamesChard — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 10:39:19 GMT

Hi all,

quick newbie question:

Is it possible to create a basemap of the UK showing only certain specific postcode areas:

I need to create this primarily to print and stick on the wall. To my constant shame!

Thanks

James

Re: Creating a map of defined Postcode Sectors

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 10:42:56 GMT

do you have the data? Or are you looking for it?

Re: Creating a map of defined Postcode Sectors

JamesChard — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 11:01:04 GMT

Hi Dan,

No, I don't have the data, other than those are the only postcode areas I'd like to display

Re: Creating a map of defined Postcode Sectors

BenLeslie1 — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 11:30:41 GMT

You can download postcode sector data from the ONS website:

Office for National Statistics

Just search for poscode - there are two variations released each month - you'll have to search for the documentation if you want to read up about the differences but from your question it sounds like either will do; just go for the latest version.

Re: Creating a map of defined Postcode Sectors

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 11:32:39 GMT

Well ... I just googled and came up with a large number of hits. You can explore, but if you can even get the data in shapefile format that will be a start... for example, here is one link Data | Open Door Logistics

Re: Creating a map of defined Postcode Sectors

JamesChard — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 11:34:27 GMT

Thanks Dan, that looks just the ticket!

Re: Creating a map of defined Postcode Sectors

XanderBakker — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 12:24:10 GMT

If you download the data from the link suggested by Dan (http://www.opendoorlogistics.com/wp-content/uploads/Data/UK-postcode-boundaries-Jan-2015.zip , do read the usage terms) there will be 3 shapefiles in the ZIP:

Areas, Districts and Sectors.

Depending on the level of detail required, you can directly use the areas using a definition query:

"name" in ('CB','CO','IP','NR','PE','SG','SM','SS')

For Districts and Sectors you will probably have to create an additional text field, fill it with: left( [name], 2) and then point the definition query shown above to that new field.

Example (areas in black, districts in blue and sectors in red with labels):

source: Open Door Logistics | Specialists in open source solutions for transport logistics

Areas:

source: Open Door Logistics | Specialists in open source solutions for transport logistics