CDX Technologies Product Overview and Comparison

16 April 2021 Bill-Hughes

We've greatly expanded our product offerings. In addition to improving CDXZipStream we've added web based browser tools and API services. While each product has it purpose, there are overlapping capabilities which can make choosing what to use confusing.

So we've created a video which covers the three major products that CDX Technologies offers. Three products are reviewed, the CDXZipStream Excel Add-in, our CDXStreamer Address Correction and browser based tools and CDXGeodata REST API Services and add-ons.

We'll be producing additional videos in the coming months describing how you can gain additional benefits from using CDXZipStream and our other products. Please consider subscribing to the new CDXTech channel on YouTube and turning on notifications if you would like to be alerted when they are available.

Using CDXZipStream Formulas with Large Data Sets

03 March 2021 Bill-Hughes
CDXZipStream custom formulas do a wide variety of tasks, such as importing demographic data into Microsoft Excel, creating zip code lists, even calculating driving distance between locations. If you have a large data set, the CDXZipStream button is a very easy way to insert custom function formulas into your worksheet. Simply position the cellpointer in Excel, then use the CDXZipStream interface to select the data items you need and create the formulas. We cover this in a number of resources including our quick-start tutorial.
 
But if you are working with a very large amount of data (> 5,000 calculations) we recommend another approach. For instance, let's say you need demographic data for all zip codes. There are over 40,000 zip codes in the U.S., and if you use the CDXZipStream button you will see a warning that there will be a delay in obtaining the data. Your system may also appear unresponsive as CDXZipStream manually enters the data for every zip code.
 
In this case, use the CDXZipStream button or right click functions to get custom formulas for only the first line in your list – just make sure to insert a blank row after the first zip code. Then delete the blank row and use the Excel autofill feature for the remaining items in the list. (Please refer to this Microsoft article about autofill – just remember you can automatically fill a formula downward, for all adjacent cells, by double-clicking the fill handle of the first cell – dragging the handle is difficult for long data lists.) This is a significantly faster method and Excel will also show you the progress of the calculations.
 
You can also use our free templates as a more efficient way to deal with calculating long lists. Copying large groups of formulas in Excel can be quite cumbersome. Excel doesn't calculate formulas linearly and can appear to be "hung" even though calculations are proceeding in the background. The templates calculate in the order your data is entered, allow you to break out of the calculation if needed, and have an indicator showing progress to completion.

ACS Tract Update with Latest US Census Data

05 February 2021 Bill-Hughes
The CDXZipStream Census Tract data feed has been updated with the latest information from the American Community Survey for the years 2015-2019. The feed includes all census tracts in both the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and covers a wide array of demographic data such as: age, individual earnings, educational attainment, household size, household income, housing value and rent, marital status, population, race, and school enrollment. Most of these where relevant are also provided by gender.
 
Since census tracts are on average about half the size of ZIP Codes, they offer a more precise demographic snapshot. A complete listing and description of each demographic variable is provided in the downloadable document CDXZipStream Data Feeds and Definitions .
 
The The census tract database is compatible with all demographic versions of CDXZipStream. It is a separate purchase priced at $149.95 and can be purchased in your cdxtech.com online account. Use the CDXZipStream menu "Buy Data Update" option. . 

New Web-Based Location Data Tool for Geocoding

29 January 2021 Bill-Hughes

We are continuing to add to the breadth and scope of our CDXStreamer browser based tools available at cdxtech.com. A new Bulk Location Data Batch Report has been added that can perform forward and reverse geocoding.

This application works in a similar fashion to our Address Correction and Zip+4 tool.  The major difference in the tools is the Location tool can handle worldwide addresses whereas the Address tool only covers the US. Partial or “Fuzzy Information” such as just a street address can also be entered to return possible matches. You can also simply enter two columns with latitude and longitude for reverse geocoding.

To use the application upload an Excel (xlsx) file or csv file to the application and it will produce an output report covering the best match, latitude, longitude and other relevant address data.

 

The tool can handle up to 10,000 locations at one time and uses the HERE API as a data source. When the report is created you will receive a download link and an email receipt. Locations can be entered as complete or partial addresses, zip codes or geocodes. It will work for US or International locations, any country that HERE supports.

There is a $9.95 minimum report charge and it can be used with your CDXStreamer account for lower costs. Just a web browser is necessary to run the tool, no additional software is required.

You’ll find the tool is useful if you have just a one-time report requirement or if you need to deploy and this type of application to your entire workforce. A single CDXStreamer license covers an unlimited number of users. CDXStreamer is just billed on the number of requests and does not require a separate license as CDXZipStream does.

For a tutorial on using the Location Data tool please see the following video.

 


 

ACS Data Feeds Updated with Latest US Census Data

12 January 2021 Bill-Hughes
The CDXZipStream ACS data feeds for state, county, ZIP code (ZCTA), place, and CBSA (Core-Based Statistical Area) have been updated with the latest data releases from the U.S. Census Bureau. These data are from the American Community Survey, which surveys about 1 out of every 38 households every year. These feeds are available in the CDXZipStream Premium ACS version. Data are aggregated over the years 2015 through 2019, with the exception of state demographics, which are provided for the year 2019. 
 
The demographic areas covered in all ACS feeds are: age, population, household size, household income, individual earnings, race and ethnicity, educational attainment, school enrollment, housing value and rent, mortgage status, and marital status. For a full listing of all data fields included in the feeds, please download the CDXZipStream Data Feeds and Definitions file here.
  
If you already own CDXZipStream ACS Premium and have an active data maintenance contract, select the "Account" option on the CDXZipStream Excel menu and click on "Check for Available Database Updates". Then select the option to update your premium database. 
 
For users without an active account you can update your data feeds by logging into your on-line account on CDXTech.com. Under "My Account", then "Product Management", select "Buy Data Update" and then purchase the Premium Maintenance contract. If you don't have the correct CDXZipStream version select "Upgrade License" in the account area and select the option to upgrade to the ACS version. The latest data will automatically be included with your purchase.