Postcodes - Revision history

Neville Reid: update section link

2025-07-31T14:50:11Z

update section link

Jacky at 11:36, 3 July 2025

2025-07-03T11:36:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:36, 3 July 2025
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	Once we have a precise location, there are other useful things we can do:		Once we have a precise location, there are other useful things we can do:
	* Show people how far away a post is, to help them decide whether it's reachable.		* Show people how far away a post is, to help them decide whether it's reachable.==
	* Find other nearby posts they might be particularly interested in.		* Find other nearby posts they might be particularly interested in.
	* Automatically show people posts based on approximate travel time.		* Automatically show people posts based on approximate travel time.
	* Generate statistics on a postcode basis, which is something that ties in to work councils and other organisations do (a lot of demographic data is postcode-based).		* Generate statistics on a postcode basis, which is something that ties in to work councils and other organisations do (a lot of demographic data is postcode-based).
	None of these are things you can do without locations which are accurate to around the postcode level.		None of these are things you can do without locations which are accurate to around the postcode level.

			== Missing Postcodes? ==

			We get our postcodes from Doogal. If a member's postcode is not on their system, we won’t get it. If you hear from a member that their postcode isn't being recognised, you can mail doogal@doogal.co.uk and ask about specific postcodes.

	== TrashNothing ==		== TrashNothing ==

Jacky at 10:48, 31 May 2024

2024-05-31T10:48:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:48, 31 May 2024
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	''To edit your post, follow the instructions at: https://help.trashnothing.com/how-do-i-edit-my-post. And once you’re editing your post, click on the map to change where the map shows or use the 'New Location' option that is part of the Location selection on the edit post page.''		''To edit your post, follow the instructions at: https://help.trashnothing.com/how-do-i-edit-my-post. And once you’re editing your post, click on the map to change where the map shows or use the 'New Location' option that is part of the Location selection on the edit post page.''


			Link: [[ModTools]]

			[[category:ModTools]]

Edwh: Edwh moved page Postcode recognition to Postcodes

2024-05-26T13:58:59Z

Edwh moved page Postcode recognition to Postcodes

← Older revision	Revision as of 13:58, 26 May 2024
(No difference)

Edwh: /* TrashNothing */

2024-05-26T13:58:28Z

TrashNothing

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:58, 26 May 2024
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	* You can define the subject line format, for example to include a short location and part of a postcode		* You can define the subject line format, for example to include a short location and part of a postcode
	* You can forbid certain locations.		* You can forbid certain locations.
	* It tries to establish a precise location (~~which is passed to us~~) and ~~allows~~ the user ~~to correct~~ it.		* It tries to establish a precise location (via Find My Location and IP geolocation) and relies on the user noticing and correcting it if it's wrong.
	* Find my location and IP location.

	This still leaves a fair number of posts where the location is wrong, and you will occasionally see this. You may have to ask TN users to correct their location:		This still leaves a fair number of posts where the location is wrong, and you will occasionally see this. You may have to ask TN users to correct their location:

	''To edit your post, follow the instructions at: https://help.trashnothing.com/how-do-i-edit-my-post. And once you’re editing your post, click on the map to change where the map shows or use the 'New Location' option that is part of the Location selection on the edit post page.''		''To edit your post, follow the instructions at: https://help.trashnothing.com/how-do-i-edit-my-post. And once you’re editing your post, click on the map to change where the map shows or use the 'New Location' option that is part of the Location selection on the edit post page.''

Edwh: /* Other benefits */

2024-05-26T13:57:26Z

Other benefits

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:57, 26 May 2024
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	* Find other nearby posts they might be particularly interested in.		* Find other nearby posts they might be particularly interested in.
	* Automatically show people posts based on approximate travel time.		* Automatically show people posts based on approximate travel time.
	* Generate statistics on a postcode basis, which is something that ties in to work councils and other organisations do (a lot of demographic data is postcode-based)		* Generate statistics on a postcode basis, which is something that ties in to work councils and other organisations do (a lot of demographic data is postcode-based).
	None of these are things you can do without locations which are accurate to around the postcode level.		None of these are things you can do without locations which are accurate to around the postcode level.

Edwh: /* Friendly locations */

2024-05-26T13:57:01Z

Friendly locations

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:57, 26 May 2024
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	We have a method to [[Community_Mapping#Changing_Location_on_Freegle_Posts\|map postcodes]] to friendly locations. Briefly, we'll choose the smallest area that the postcode is inside, or the closest area if it's not inside one. This means moderators effectively have control over the locations that are in use on their group.		We have a method to [[Community_Mapping#Changing_Location_on_Freegle_Posts\|map postcodes]] to friendly locations. Briefly, we'll choose the smallest area that the postcode is inside, or the closest area if it's not inside one. This means moderators effectively have control over the locations that are in use on their group.

	This mapping was set up many years ago, and if you've not looked at it recently (or at all) then you should do so - see the link above. If it looks a mess, then you can sort it out yourself or [[Central Support\|get help]]. It might seem intimidating, but remember that '''you only have to sort this out once'''.		This mapping was set up many years ago, and if you've not looked at it recently (or at all) then you should do so - see the link above. If it looks a mess, then you can sort it out yourself or [[Central Support\|get help]]. It might seem intimidating, but remember that '''you only have to sort this out once'''. Some groups make changes when there is a complaint about a specific area.

	Once the mapping is correct for your area, then all postcodes will be mapped to sensible locations - the problem of some people getting them wrong on posts has been removed.		Once the mapping is correct for your area, then all postcodes will be mapped to sensible locations - the problem of some people getting them wrong on posts has been removed.

Edwh: /* More precise locations */

2024-05-26T13:56:14Z

More precise locations

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:56, 26 May 2024
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	* What3Words is trying to become a standard, but it is still extremely rare for people in the UK to know their W3W address by heart.		* What3Words is trying to become a standard, but it is still extremely rare for people in the UK to know their W3W address by heart.

	Our system asks for the postcode as the first item when someone posts. This means that we can [[Community Mapping\|identify a suitable default]] for them to post on - which means they don't have to make a complex choice, and also means that we don't have to spend time correcting wrong choices.		Our system asks for the postcode as the first item when someone posts. This means that we can [[Community Mapping\|identify a suitable default group]] for them to post on - which means they don't have to make a complex choice, and also means that we don't have to spend time correcting wrong choices.

	== Friendly locations ==		== Friendly locations ==

Edwh: /* Which group? */

2024-05-26T13:55:31Z

Which group?

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:55, 26 May 2024
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	In some areas of the country, especially those with dense populations (no pun intended) this problem is very much worse than others. If you live in an area where you don't think it is a problem, your experience may not apply to areas where it is.		In some areas of the country, especially those with dense populations (no pun intended) this problem is very much worse than others. If you live in an area where you don't think it is a problem, your experience may not apply to areas where it is.

	We spent a lot of time telling people they'd posted on the wrong group. We shouldn't let people get into that situation.		We spent a lot of time telling people they'd posted on the wrong group, which was frustrating for them and waste our time. We shouldn't let people get into that situation in the first place.

	== More precise locations ==		== More precise locations ==

Edwh: /* We got bad locations */

2024-05-26T13:54:49Z

We got bad locations

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:54, 26 May 2024
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	There are some solutions to getting human readable friendly lcoations, such as Google Autocomplete. But:		There are some solutions to getting human readable friendly lcoations, such as Google Autocomplete. But:
	* The good ones cost too much, the bad ones are too bad.		* The good ones cost too much, the bad ones are too bad.
	* They are aimed more aimed at producing street or postal addresses, not the kind of ~~addresses~~ we want.		* They are aimed more aimed at producing street or postal addresses, not the kind of area locations we want.
	* They don't include "unofficial" locations that everyone knows and uses but aren't on maps.		* They don't include "unofficial" locations that everyone knows and uses but aren't on maps.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:50, 31 July 2025
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	== What's wrong with free-form locations? ==		== What's wrong with free-form locations? ==

	Back in the days of Yahoo Groups, we had free-form locations that people just typed. This sounds appealing. What's wrong with it? Well, several things. And a key point to remember is that these problems happened over and over again - for a certain percentage of wrong posts.		Back in the days of Yahoo Groups, we had free-form locations that people just typed. This sounds appealing. What's wrong with it? Well, several things. And a key point to remember is that these problems happened over and over again – for a certain percentage of wrong posts.

	=== We got bad locations ===		=== We got bad locations ===
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	* What3Words is trying to become a standard, but it is still extremely rare for people in the UK to know their W3W address by heart.		* What3Words is trying to become a standard, but it is still extremely rare for people in the UK to know their W3W address by heart.

	Our system asks for the postcode as the first item when someone posts. This means that we can [[~~Community Mapping~~\|identify a suitable default group]] for them to post on - which means they don't have to make a complex choice, and also means that we don't have to spend time correcting wrong choices.		Our system asks for the postcode as the first item when someone posts. This means that we can [[Maps\|identify a suitable default group]] for them to post on – which means they don't have to make a complex choice, and also means that we don't have to spend time correcting wrong choices.

	== Friendly locations ==		== Friendly locations ==

	We don't show people's full postcodes for privacy reasons - just the first part. It's still useful for many groups to have a human-readable location that people would recognise, for example in an email. This is partly an accessibility issue, since not everyone will be able to view maps.		We don't show people's full postcodes for privacy reasons – just the first part. It's still useful for many groups to have a human-readable location that people would recognise, for example in an email. This is partly an accessibility issue, since not everyone will be able to view maps.

	We have a method to [[~~Community_Mapping~~#~~Changing_Location_on_Freegle_Posts~~\|map postcodes]] to friendly locations. Briefly, we'll choose the smallest area that the postcode is inside, or the closest area if it's not inside one. This means moderators effectively have control over the locations that are in use on their group.		We have a method to [[Maps#Changing location on Freegle posts\|map postcodes]] to friendly locations. Briefly, we'll choose the smallest area that the postcode is inside, or the closest area if it's not inside one. This means moderators effectively have control over the locations that are in use on their group.

	This mapping was set up many years ago, and if you've not looked at it recently (or at all) then you should do so - see the link above. If it looks a mess, then you can sort it out yourself or [[Central Support\|get help]]. It might seem intimidating, but remember that '''you only have to sort this out once'''. Some groups make changes when there is a complaint about a specific area.		This mapping was set up many years ago, and if you've not looked at it recently (or at all) then you should do so – see the link above. If it looks a mess, then you can sort it out yourself or [[Central Support\|get help]]. It might seem intimidating, but remember that '''you only have to sort this out once'''. Some groups make changes when there is a complaint about a specific area.

	Once the mapping is correct for your area, then all postcodes will be mapped to sensible locations - the problem of some people getting them wrong on posts has been removed.		Once the mapping is correct for your area, then all postcodes will be mapped to sensible locations – the problem of some people getting them wrong on posts has been removed.

	== Other benefits ==		== Other benefits ==

	Once we have a precise location, there are other useful things we can do:		Once we have a precise location, there are other useful things we can do:
	* Show people how far away a post is, to help them decide whether it's reachable.==		* Show people how far away a post is, to help them decide whether it's reachable.
	* Find other nearby posts they might be particularly interested in.		* Find other nearby posts they might be particularly interested in.
	* Automatically show people posts based on approximate travel time.		* Automatically show people posts based on approximate travel time.
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	None of these are things you can do without locations which are accurate to around the postcode level.		None of these are things you can do without locations which are accurate to around the postcode level.

	== Missing ~~Postcodes~~? ==		== Missing postcodes? ==

	We get our postcodes from Doogal. If a member's postcode is not on their system, we won’t get it. If you hear from a member that their postcode isn't being recognised, you can mail doogal@doogal.co.uk and ask about specific postcodes.		We get our postcodes from Doogal. If a member's postcode is not on their system, we won’t get it. If you hear from a member that their postcode isn't being recognised, you can mail doogal@doogal.co.uk and ask about specific postcodes.
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	== TrashNothing ==		== TrashNothing ==

	TrashNothing has the same problems. But as an international system it can't have a single solution. So it does a mixture of things:		[[TrashNothing]] has the same problems. But as an international system it can't have a single solution. So it does a mixture of things:
	* You can define the subject line format, for example to include a short location and part of a postcode		* You can define the subject line format, for example to include a short location and part of a postcode
	* You can forbid certain locations.		* You can forbid certain locations.