Access Walksort Database
Database Versions, Releases and Monthly Updates
The new Version of the Access Walksort Database is Database 2010. Each Version of the Access Walksort Database will have a number of Releases. Release 1a of Access Walksort Database 2010 became available for download on 23 August 2010, and may be used for Access Walksort postings from 27 September 2010 to 6 January 2011.
The current Version of the Access Walksort Database is Database 2009. Each Version of the Access Walksort Database will have a number of Releases. Release 8b of Access Walksort Database 2009 (4 Zones) became available for download on 6 September 2010, and may be used for Access Walksort postings from 6 September 2010 to 26 September 2010.
A new release of the Access Walksort Database is issued online every month. This allows the Database to be as up-to-date as possible, including details from the monthly updates to Royal Mail’s Postcode Address File as well as any changes in local postal rounds (or "walks").
Customers who download their Access Walksort Database from this site will be able to obtain a freshly-updated release from the first Monday of each month.
| Database 2009 | Release Date | Valid From | Valid To | Release Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release 1a | 1 Jun 2009 | 29 Jun 2009 | 1 Oct 2009 | 1 |
| Release 1b | 6 Jul 2009 | 6 Jul 2009 | 6 Nov 2009 | 1 |
| Release 2a | 3 Aug 2009 | 3 Aug 2009 | 3 Dec 2009 | 2 |
| Release 2b | 7 Sep 2009 | 7 Sep 2009 | 7 Jan 2010 | 2 |
| Release 3a | 5 Oct 2009 | 5 Oct 2009 | 5 Feb 2010 | 3 |
| Release 3b | 2 Nov 2009 | 2 Nov 2009 | 2 Mar 2010 | 3 |
| Release 4a | 7 Dec 2009 | 7 Dec 2009 | 2 Apr 2010 | 4 |
| Release 4b | 4 Jan 2010 | 4 Jan 2010 | 2 Apr 2010 | 4 |
| Release 5a | 1 Feb 2010 | 1 Feb 2010 | 2 Apr 2010 | 5 |
| Release 5b | 1 Mar 2010 | 6 Apr 2010 | 1 Jul 2010 | 5 |
| Release 6a | 6 Apr 2010 | 6 Apr 2010 | 6 Aug 2010 | 6 |
| Release 6b | 4 May 2010 | 4 May 2010 | 4 Sep 2010 | 6 |
| Release 7a | 7 Jun 2010 | 7 Jun 2010 | 26 Sep 2010 | 7 |
| Release 7b | 5 Jul 2010 | 5 Jul 2010 | 26 Sep 2010 | 7 |
| Release 8a | 2 Aug 2010 | 2 Aug 2010 | 26 Sep 2010 | 8 |
| Release 8b | 6 Sep 2010 | 6 Sep 2010 | 26 Sep 2010 | 8 |
| Database 2010 | Release Date | Valid From | Valid To | Release Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release 1a* | 23 Aug 2010 | 27 Sep 2010 | 6 Jan 2011 | 1 |
| Release 1b | 4 Oct 2010 | 4 Oct 2010 | 4 Feb 2011 | 1 |
| Release 2a | 1 Nov 2010 | 1 Nov 2010 | 1 Mar 2011 | 2 |
| Release 2b | 6 Dec 2010 | 6 Dec 2010 | 6 Apr 2011 | 2 |
| Release 3a | 4 Jan 2011 | 4 Jan 2011 | 4 May 2011 | 3 |
| Release 3b | 7 Feb 2011 | 7 Feb 2011 | 7 Jun 2011 | 3 |
Important Notes:
* Access Walksort Database 2010 Release 1a will be available to allow customers to prepare mailings early to be used on or after 27 September 2010.
As it is important always to use a recent Release of the Access Walksort Database, Royal Mail recommends that, wherever possible, Access Walksort users should download the latest Database from this web site before preparing a particular mailing. Customers who post infrequently, maybe only once or twice a year, need not download the data onto their systems every month, but it is recommended that this is done prior to starting work on each Access Walksort postings.
While monthly updating of the data is recommended to maximise the effectiveness of your postings and the discounts you receive, Royal Mail Wholesale is not making this compulsory. However, customers must always use an Access Walksort Database which is no more than 4 months old. Failure to use an Access Walksort Release no more than 4 months old will result in the delay of your mailing and/or a loss of discount.
Database Licence Agreement:
In order to obtain a copy of the Access Walksort Database, you will need to have signed a Access Walksort Database Licence Agreement. This is primarily to ensure that you agree that the database will only be used for the purpose described within the agreement - i.e. the sortation of postings.
Please return your signed Licence Agreement to the Royal Mail Wholesale Technical Helpline.
Please note: Before sending us your Agreement it must be counter-signed by Charlotte Marshall.
Click here to download a database licence agreement.
In order to read the database licence agreement you will need an Acrobat reader which is available free of charge from the Adobe website: Adobe website
Licence Number and Key:
Once you have sent your database licence agreement to the Royal Mail Wholesale Department you will be issued with an Access Walksort Licence Number and Key. You will need this Licence Number and Key when you download the Access Walksort Database.
If you have signed a Licence Agreement but have not received a Licence Number and Key, please contact the Royal Mail Wholesale Technical Helpline.
Database File Formats:
The Access Walksort Database is available in Fixed Field Width and Comma Delimited Field text formats for use by Access Walksort software.
The database files for the whole of the UK are reasonably large (30-40 Mb, zipped to 4-5 Mb). You may download either the entire UK database or a selected portion of the database covering the areas to which you will be mailing. Should you choose the latter option, you will need to know the Postcode Areas that you require.
The Access Walksort Database has been Zipped. For more information on Zip files, Click Here.
Downloading a Database:
In order to be able to inform you of changes and updates to the Access Walksort Database and to ensure that only licenced users obtain the Database, we require a few details before proceeding. When you click to "Download Access Walksort Database...", below, you will be taken through the registration process.
At the end of the registration process you will need to enter your Access Walksort Licence Number and Key (see above).
If you have registered with Royal Mail Wholesale before, then you will not be required to register again. However, please do let us know by email if your details have changed.
Download Access Walksort Database 2009 Release 8b for use from 6 September 2010 until 26 September 2010
Download Access Walksort Database 2010 Release 1a for use from 27 September 2010 until 6 January 2011