CodeKey@Lisan

I've never approached this before, but my next project involves coding up a search tool that will do the following:

assume I'm selling a product, say used cars, nationally across the country

visitors to the site need to search for a used car within 20miles of their own postcode

I would assume that apart from my database, containing the cars and their respective postcodes, I'd need a second 3rd party "postcodes" database that can be xref'd to give me a distance for each record (car)

Can someone with prior experience please explain the best approach ?

ScoobyWon't

You can order a cd from Royal Mail containing what they call PAF files, it's 450MB of postcode and addresses etc.

Autotrader.co.uk offer a distance of... search. You may find some clues there.
I vaguely remember doing something back in '99 that did the same search but was for a swingers site. If I remember how it worked I'll up date this post.

DazV

cheers ScoobyWon't

Its nothing new like you say, just haven't had any reason to code one up yet. Was a little curious to see how its done.

Anyone else offer their experience ?