# Requirements for using the data

## What you need to use Code-Point Open <a href="#bookmark2" id="bookmark2"></a>

Code-Point Open is a data product and does not include software for analysis but can be used with a variety of programs. Code-Point Open can be loaded into a GIS (geographical information system) for display and analysis of the data. Consult your GIS documentation to establish actual system requirements.

## Supply mechanism <a href="#bookmark3" id="bookmark3"></a>

Code-Point Open is only available as national cover of Great Britain. The product is supplied in two formats (CSV and GeoPackage) as an online download from the [OS Data Hub](https://osdatahub.os.uk/).

## Product update schedule <a href="#bookmark4" id="bookmark4"></a>

Updates are supplied quarterly (February, May, August and November) and provided as a complete resupply. Any postcode that is deleted between supplies will not be included.

## Coverage and file sizes <a href="#bookmark5" id="bookmark5"></a>

Code-Point Open covers postcodes for Great Britain. In CSV format, postcodes are divided into postcode areas and supplied as 120 files. GeoPackage format is a self-contained database.

The approximate file sizes of the respective data formats are as follows:

* CSV: 153MB
* GeoPackage: 257MB

## Available formats <a href="#bookmark9" id="bookmark9"></a>

### CSV <a href="#bookmark10" id="bookmark10"></a>

The structure of Code-Point Open supplied in CSV is described in the product's [Technical Specification](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/products/areas-and-zones-portfolio/code-point-open/code-point-open-technical-specification).

### GeoPackage <a href="#bookmark11" id="bookmark11"></a>

The structure of Code-Point Open supplied in GeoPackage is described in the product's [Technical Specification](https://docs.os.uk/os-downloads/products/areas-and-zones-portfolio/code-point-open/code-point-open-technical-specification).

## Code-Point Open data structure <a href="#bookmark6" id="bookmark6"></a>

### CSV <a href="#bookmark7" id="bookmark7"></a>

The Code-Point Open CSV format contains two folders in the root directory: **Doc** and **Data**.

The **Doc** folder contains the following files:

* Codelist.xlsx – Lookup table of Government Statistical Service (GSS) codes.
* Code-Point\_Open\_Column\_Headers.csv – Description of column headers.
* licence.txt – Important licence information.
* metadata.txt – Number of postcode units in each postcode area.
* NHS\_Codelist.xls – Lookup table of health GSS codes.
* readme.txt – Summary of supplied data.

The **Data** folder contains the following sub-folder:

* CSV – 120 postcode area files in CSV format.

### GeoPackage <a href="#bookmark8" id="bookmark8"></a>

The Code-Point Open GeoPackage format contains the following text file in the root directory:

* Readme.txt – Summary of supplied data and two folders: **Doc** and **Data**.

The **Doc** folder contains the following files:

* Codelist.xlsx – Lookup table of GSS codes.
* Code-Point\_Open\_Column\_Headers.csv – Description of column headers.
* Licence.txt – Important licence information.
* Metadata.txt – Number of postcode units in each postcode area.
* NHS\_Codelist.xls – Lookup table of health GSS codes.&#x20;

The **Data** folder contains the following file:

* Codepo\_gb.gpkg – One postcode area file in GeoPackage format.


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