# Location synthesis options

Location values include the following types:

* Location
* Location Address
* Location State
* Location Zip

For location types that include zip codes, you can also specify how to generate the new zip code values.

<figure><img src="/files/KbH9FuEQxGGXvXHfWHIt" alt=""><figcaption><p>Synthesis options for location values</p></figcaption></figure>

## Selecting the type of address generator to use <a href="#address-generator-type" id="address-generator-type"></a>

Under **Address generator type**, select the type of address generator to use:

* **HIPAA-compliant address generator.** This option generates values similar to those generated by the [HIPAA Address generator in Structural](/app/generation/generators/generator-reference/hipaa-address.md).
* **Non-HIPAA address generator.** This option generates values similar to those generated by the [Address generator in Structural](/app/generation/generators/generator-reference/address.md).

If you configured a Textual statistics seed that matches a Structural statistics seed, then the generated address values are consistent with values generated in Structural. A given address value produces the same output value in both applications.

For example, in both Textual and Structural, a source address value 123 Main Street might be replaced with 234 Oak Avenue.

## Using realistic replacement values

For Location State, based on HIPAA guidelines, both the **Synthesize** option and the **Ignore** option pass through the value.

For location types other than Location State, by default, Textual replaces a location value with a realistic corresponding value. For example, "Main Street" might be replaced with "Fourth Avenue".

To instead scramble the values, uncheck **Replace with realistic values**.

## Generating replacement zip codes

### Using zeroes for the last two digits

By default, to generate a new zip code, Textual selects a real zip code that starts with the same three digits as the original zip code. For a low population area, Textual instead selects a random zip code from within the United States.

To instead replace the last two digits of the zip code with zeros, check **Replace zeroes for zip codes**. For a low population area, Textual instead replaces all of the digits in the zip code with zeros.

This option is also used when you truncate zip codes to the first 3 digits. When you truncate zip codes, and enable this option, Textual adds zeroes to fill out the zip code to 5 digits.

### Truncating zip codes to 3 digits

To truncate zip codes to the first 3 digits, check **Use 3-digit zip codes**.

If you also check **Replace zeroes for zip codes**, then Textual replaces the truncated digits with zeroes.

### Replacing foreign zip codes with zeroes

For zip codes from outside of the United States, then to replace those zip codes with zeroes, check **Replace foreign zip codes with zeroes**.


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