question about zip codes

[ThunderMusic]

Hi,
I know, it may sound like having no releation to databases, but it has. In
fact, I'm designing a database and I need to know if it is possible for a
zip code to repeat from state to states, country to country, et al. because
I know USA uses 5 digits zip codes (now with 3 other digits) and europe uses
that system too. So what I'm wandering is if it is possible to have the
exact same zip code let's say, un the US and in England or in France? It's
because I want to know if I should put my primary key only on zip code or on
zip code and country or any other thing.

Thanks

ThunderMusic

 

[Chris Roth [ Visio MVP ]]

Well 80634 is in Greeley Colorado, but is also my girlfriend's zip code in
central Munich, so they aren't unique.

You could probably tack on the telephone country code. Those must be unique
(until there's a war or border dispute?)

--

Hope this helps,

Chris Roth
Visio MVP

 

[Thomas Prost]

I can only give you some to compare with:
In Germany, nearly all five digit numbers are used in zip-codes.
So, if there exist codes like 01000 up to 99999 in USA, too, you´d
better take the two-attribute-combination for primary key.

Best Regards
Thomas

 

[Al Edlund]

muddy the water even further, some zipcodes can have extensions for more
granularity i.e. 60014-8380.
Al

 

[ThunderMusic]

I know this fact... I tought it was 3 digits, it may be 4.

thanks

 

[ThunderMusic]

Anyways, it's pretty improbable that 2 zip codes that are exactly the same
to be inserted in the same database, but better safe than sorry...

thanks a lot

ThunderMusic