For data to be useful it must be in a recognisable form. When information is imported into IDMA it is translated into a consistent format. The input file data types are defined in a general fashion as numeric, date, currency, name, address etc. and the import program standardizes them using, where appropriate, dynamic lookup tables. Datasets are inverted on import to enable all fields, not just keys, to be searched. There is also a data export facility. Standardized data within IDMA allows you to perform intelligent cross-matching between databases. Fields common to both can be used to link and display information from the different sources. For example, HB name fields can be displayed next to those from payroll for matched addresses and fuzzy comparison used to highlight, for example, employees claiming benefit. The information available in IDMA can be displayed in a variety of ways. Having chosen those records that you wish to analyse, you can quickly produce frequency counts, cross-tabulations, totals, etc. or export them to a business graphics package. Alternatively you can display whichever fields you want of the selected records and insert sub-totals on change of value.