ZIP version 2.0, Copyright 1992 by Access Success.

This utility will quickly identify the zip and area codes
corresponding to a city in the United States.  It does this by
searching an indexed database of over 42,000 city, state, zip and
area code combinations.  Uses include completing an address with
a zip code, determining an area code for a phone call, selecting
a zip code range for a mass mailing, and verifying the postal
abbreviation of a state name.

The program may be installed in its own directory, such as in
C:\ZIP, or in a directory in which other utilities are kept, such
as in C:\UTIL.  For convenient operation, this directory should
be included on the DOS or network search path, thereby allowing
the program to be run from any DOS prompt.

Another operating method is to run ZIP from a batch file that is
accessible on the search path.  The included ZIP.BAT facilitates
this method, and might be placed in a directory with other batch
files, such as in C:\BATCH.  By default, this file assumes the
ZIP program is installed in the C:\ZIP directory.  It may be
edited if appropriate.

Entering the ZIP command with no parameters will display a help
screen.  If the ZIP command is followed by a city, state, zip, or
area code, it will search the database and display the city,
state, zip, and area code combination it finds (or the closest
match).  Examples:

C> zip hometown
(304)   Hometown  WV  25109
Notice that only the city was specified and that capitalization
is unnecessary.

C> zip kalamazoo
(616)   Kalamazoo  MI  49001/9
Notice that a zip range was returned:  the longest, consecutive
zip sequence.  (Following the slash mark is the portion of the
upper zip that differs from the lower one.)  If more than one
sequence includes as many values as the longest, then the lowest
one is displayed.  The zip code or range selected in this way is
usually located at the center of the area in question and thus
the most meaningful one to display.  A broader target for a mass
mailing can be obtained by extending the boundaries of this
range.

C> zip san fran
(415)   San Francisco  CA  94114/46
Notice that a partial city name was sufficient.

C> zip saint paul mn
(612)   Saint Paul  MN  55168/72
Notice that both the city and state were needed, since the city
is not unique.

C> zip lincoln nebraska
(402)   Lincoln  NE  68500/12
Notice that a state may be specified by name instead of
abbreviation.  To be recognized as a state, the whole name or
postal abbreviation must be used:  otherwise, the input is
interpreted as part of the city specification.

C> zip ma
Massachusetts   (413, 508, 617)   02100/81
Notice that a state alone may be specified (by name or
abbreviation), and that its area codes and zip range are
returned.

C> zip 12345
(518)   Schenectady  NY  12300/9
Notice that a zip code was specified.

C> zip 02169
(617)   Quincy  MA  02159
Notice that the zip code specified did not appear in the output
with the city that was found.  As long as the program does not
say "Closest match," the zip code specified is indeed within the
city displayed.  It does not actually appear in the output if it
is not within the longest zip range of that city.  As in the
above example, the longest zip range may be only a single value
if the city does not have two consecutive zip codes.

C> zip 99
Finding largest city in 99 zip range
(509)   Spokane  WA  99200/16
Notice that a zip range was specified by typing its initial
digits (one or more).  The "largest city" means the one
containing the most zip codes, counting those both in and outside
the longest zip range displayed.

C> zip (404)
Finding largest city in 404 area code
(404)   Atlanta  GA  30351/90
Notice that an area code was specified within parentheses.

After the program displays the city, state, zip, and area code
combination it finds, it will pause with the cursor at the
beginning of the zip code. Pressing any key will return control
to the DOS prompt.

The first time ZIP is run with a search parameter, it will create
the file ZIP.CDX, a compound index that makes subsequent searches
almost instantaneous.  The database file, ZIP.DBF, must exist
either in the current directory or in the one containing the
executable file, ZIP.EXE.  Be aware that the executable,
database, and index files occupy about three megabytes of space
on a hard disk.  This utility is for people who value fast zip
and area code searches and can afford the space!  Note that the
program may be run simultaneously by more than one user on a
network, after the index file has been created.


As the author, I permit and encourage copies of ZIP to be freely
made and shared with others, so long as all files are distributed
together and no profit is made.  I hope it is useful to many and
have done what I can to make this possible.  I cannot, however,
accept responsibility for any inadvertent consequences of its
use--computer-wise, information-wise, or otherwise.  In
particular, please note that the data is not always complete or
current:  it was electronically obtained from a few public
sources, merged and spotchecked, but not extensively validated. 
Best wishes.

Jamal Mazrui, Consultant
Access Success
745 Somerville Ave.
Somerville, MA  02143
Phone:  (617) 666-9856