Editing Postcode Address File (section)

==File structure==

Royal Mail's Programmers Guide<ref name=pg7v6>{{cite web|url=https://www.poweredbypaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Latest-Programmers_guide_Edition-7-Version-6.pdf|title=Programmers Guide – Technical specifications for users of PAF® and associated raw data products, Edition 7, Version 6|date=2013|publisher=[[Royal Mail]]|access-date=2022-08-30}}</ref> lists the following address elements of PAF and their respective maximum field lengths:

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!               Element      !! Field name                        !! Description !! Max length
|-
| rowspan="2" | Organisation || Organisation Name                 ||             || 60
|-
|                               Department Name                   ||             || 60
|-
| rowspan="3" | Premises     || Sub Building Name                 ||             || 30
|-
|                               Building Name                     ||             || 50
|-
|                               Building Number                   ||             || 4
|-
| rowspan="4" | Thoroughfare || Dependent Thoroughfare Name       ||             || 60
|-
|                               Dependent Thoroughfare Descriptor ||             || 20
|-
|                               Thoroughfare Name                 || Street<ref name="alliescomputing1">{{cite web|url=https://www.alliescomputing.com/support/how-to-address-uk-mail-correctly |title=How to address your UK mail correctly |publisher=alliescomputing.com |access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref>     || 60
|-
|                               Thoroughfare Descriptor           ||             || 20
|-
| rowspan="3" | Locality     || Double Dependent Locality         || Small villages<ref name="alliescomputing1"/> || 35
|-
|                               [[Post town#Locality|Dependent Locality]]                ||             || 35
|-
|                               [[Post town]]                         ||             || 30
|-
|               Postcode     || [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode]]                          ||             || 7
|-
|               PO Box       || PO Box                            ||             || 6
|}

Some versions of the PAF also contain the '' 'Delivery Point Suffix (DPS)' '' used in [[RM4SCC|CBC (Customer Bar Code)]]. Alternatively the DPS can be found using Royal Mail's '' 'Postcode Information File (PIF)'.''<ref>{{cite web|title=Know how: a user's manual for Mailsort®, Walksort®, Presstream®, Cleanmail®, Presstream® Walksort®, Royal Mail International Bulk Mail™ and Automated Standard Tariff Large Letter®|url=http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/docs/pdf/Know%20How%202006%20PIP%20vs%201.6a%20Accepted%20Changes.pdf|work=Royal Mail|access-date=23 February 2016|page=80|date=April 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302020136/http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/docs/pdf/Know%20How%202006%20PIP%20vs%201.6a%20Accepted%20Changes.pdf|archive-date=2 March 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>