Puerto Rico address find?

[superc]

The program, while it has an excellent street map of Puerto Rico, appears to
be totally lacking in the capability of finding an address in Puerto Rico,
even when a zip code such as 00983 is supplied. The non mainland zip code is
ignored as if it was never entered and similar street names in places like
CA, AK, or NY are offered instead. In my opinion, MS should offer a
downloadable CD of Puerto Rico address maps that we, in Puerto Rico, can
import.

[gpsman]

Post by superc
The program, while it has an excellent street map of Puerto Rico, appears to
be totally lacking in the capability of finding an address in Puerto Rico,
even when a zip code such as 00983 is supplied. The non mainland zip code is
ignored as if it was never entered and similar street names in places like
CA, AK, or NY are offered instead. In my opinion, MS should offer a
downloadable CD of Puerto Rico address maps that we, in Puerto Rico, can
import.

Addresses are not usually located absolutely by consumer Desktop GIS
applications. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocoding

PR may have an entirely different method of addressing their streets
incompatible with the geocoding as performed by S&T.

And/or you have to consider the "usefulness" (profit potential), as
seen by Navteq, http://www.navteq.com/ of collecting address data for a
small percentage of a population of 4M occupying an area "slightly less
than three times the size of Rhode Island" according to the CIA.
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rq.html
-----

- gpsman

[superc]

No one asks for absolute accuracy. Although we note that in the mainland US
the accuracy seems to be fairly good most of the time. The island is a
large one and finding streets without functional software is difficult. Just
finding the zip code or the street would be a good beginning.

From what I see wandering around (looking for major streets, zip codes and
highways the software "Find" command can't) the address system, is similar.

If they can collect address data for my little home county in VA, which has
only 13,000 people. then they can collect it for PR too. Besides your
numbers are illusory. 4 M pop is correct, but add in an almost equal number
of transients (tourists, etc.). We can probably assume the FIND won't work
in Guam either as no Territories are named in the FIND list of states.
Microsoft's claim of "includes Puerto Rico and Guam" therefore becomes a half
truth as only half the mainland software functionality is present for the off
shore Territories (DC, on the mainland, works fine).

As proof of concept, note that tripquest.com seems to have no problem
locating the addresses, streets, or zip codes. Too bad they don't (yet)
offer a PR data download for import. Does anyone here have a source for the
location data so it can be imported?

Post by gpsman
Addresses are not usually located absolutely by consumer Desktop GIS
applications. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocoding
PR may have an entirely different method of addressing their streets
incompatible with the geocoding as performed by S&T.
And/or you have to consider the "usefulness" (profit potential), as
seen by Navteq, http://www.navteq.com/ of collecting address data for a
small percentage of a population of 4M occupying an area "slightly less
than three times the size of Rhode Island" according to the CIA.
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rq.html
-----
- gpsman

[gpsman]

superc wrote: <brevity snip>

Post by superc
No one asks for absolute accuracy. Although we note that in the mainland US
the accuracy seems to be fairly good most of the time. The island is a
large one and finding streets without functional software is difficult. Just
finding the zip code or the street would be a good beginning.

I see what you mean... after doing a search myself.

Clicking around on the map reveals the data is in there, the program is
just not configured to Find any address not in the US or CAN. But try
a Find for- post office. The top 2 results of my search are located
in... San Juan of all places. Uh-duh.

Post by superc
Microsoft's claim of "includes Puerto Rico and Guam" therefore becomes a half
truth as only half the mainland software functionality is present for the off
shore Territories (DC, on the mainland, works fine).

Half-truth is generous, and a false claim by MS concerning what is and
what is not included in S&T is nothing new. Unfortunately.

Post by superc
Does anyone here have a source for the
location data so it can be imported?

Sorry, I don't.
-----

- gpsman

[Marvin Hlavac]

Post by superc
"includes Puerto Rico and Guam"

Mine doesn't include Guam street level map. (Did you mean Hawaii instead?)

[superc]

Yeah, Probably. I dont have a copy of the ad (that inspired me to buy it
before coming to Puerto Rico) handy. Hawaii, a state, would haveno problem
with the FIND command as it is listed. A really frustrating error as all
they have to do is release a modified FIND patch with the word(s) Puerto Rico
added to the list of states. I spent an hour yesterday searching for a
street (someone I needed to see was on) with the Streets and Tips before I
gave up, found an Internet cafe, went to mapquest and typed in the street and
quickly found it, then by comparing map views located that location into the
"streets and trips" (and lo and behold there it was, just not searchable) so
I could plot the best route. Guess its a good thing the isle has so many
internet cafes or else I would still be wandering around.

Post by Marvin Hlavac

Post by superc
"includes Puerto Rico and Guam"

Mine doesn't include Guam street level map. (Did you mean Hawaii instead?)
--
Regards
Marvin Hlavac
Toronto, Canada

[Marvin Hlavac]

Microsoft somewhere on its website does disclose the fact that the find
feature doesn't function yet for many of the countries included in its
various mapping products. Check this link for a summary:
http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=55230

[superc]

Problem is, Puerto Rico is in. and part of, one of the two countries where
the find is supposed to actually work, i.e., the US and Canada.

Post by Marvin Hlavac
Microsoft somewhere on its website does disclose the fact that the find
feature doesn't function yet for many of the countries included in its
http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=55230
--
Regards
Marvin Hlavac
Toronto, Canada