DataFlux Unveils dfPower Studio 4.1 Upgrade to Data Quality and Integration Software

Business Wire, July 24, 2001

Business Editors/High Tech Writers

CARY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2001

New version features enhanced deduping and user-defined surviving

record selection

DataFlux Corporation, a SAS Company and leader in the development of data quality control tools that increase the accuracy and usability of corporate database assets, today announced the release of dfPower(TM) Studio version 4.1.

This version builds upon the previous functionality of dfPower Studio which provides an entirely point-and-click driven, out-of-the-box software product suite for managing the quality, consistency and usability of corporate data without the need for consultants to install, program or maintain the solutions. The primary upgrade to the dfPower Studio software is improved deduping functionality that includes the ability to add user-defined business rules for determining the "surviving record." Current DataFlux customers with existing maintenance subscriptions will receive dfPower Studio 4.1 as an upgrade at no extra charge. A free trial version of dfPower Studio is available for download at www.dataflux.com/demozone.asp. It will give users the ability to quickly and easily gauge the level of their data quality.

dfPower Studio 4.1 offers users expanded customization with the ability to add user-defined business rules or interactively choose and edit the surviving record when duplicate records are encountered. With dfPower Studio, users will now be able to define business rules prior to deduplicating records and if the rules are not completely satisfied, the software will select the closest record. In addition, dfPower Studio will allow for interactive functionality beyond user-defined rules so that the surviving record can have data components from any contributing source record. Plus a user can now interactively remove a record if it has been determined that a false match has occurred.

Tony Fisher, president, DataFlux said, "With the release of dfPower Studio 4.1, DataFlux continues to provide functional product upgrades that enable even greater customization and control for organizations to achieve and maintain a high level of data quality without the need to retain expensive consultants."

With a user interface that remains the same regardless of the underlying operating system or database platform, dfPower Studio facilitates full end-user customization, enterprise-wide data integration and United States Postal Service (USPS) CASS (Coding Accuracy Support System) certification of data sets. Additional functionality of dfPower Studio 4.1 includes:

--Match Code Table - Provides users with the ability to create a match code table that can be used to link the match codes with the associated tables rather than updating the tables themselves. This is beneficial for very large record volumes or for matching of static and non-updateable data sources.

--Improved SQL Support - Includes the ability to capture and view all SQL related errors, and generate a report that contains the SQL statements that are generated by dfPower Studio. This is important for customers who want to more closely control the changes that are made to their data.

--New Accessibility Features - Provides accessibility for handicapped individuals in accordance with Government regulations.

--Improved ODBC Engine - Re-designed for more efficient and portable data access, DataFlux has included support for DBMS specific data types.

"We are in constant contact with our customers to ensure that they have the best possible data quality solution," says Scott Gidley, DataFlux Chief Technology Officer. "This release is the direct result of personal discussions with our customers and will increase the flexibility of our product to give users a complete customer view."

Pricing & Availability

DataFlux dfPower Studio 4.1 is now generally available for shipment. Typically, dfPower Studio will range in price from $20,000 to $100,000 depending on the size and scope of the implementation and user configurations.

About DataFlux Corporation

Founded in 1996, DataFlux is a North Carolina-based software company that provides leading edge, award-winning technology for data cleansing, data augmentation, data consolidation and conversion and data scrubbing. The versatile DataFlux products are designed to significantly improve the accuracy, consistency and usability of an organization's critical data, enhancing the effectiveness of data-driven applications and initiatives such as data warehousing, e-commerce systems, data mining, customer information systems, sales force automation, marketing databases, customer/prospect profiling and list management. Some of the companies currently using DataFlux solutions include Bank of America, US Patent and Trademark Office, Wells Fargo, and Microsoft. DataFlux is a wholly owned subsidiary of SAS Institute, the leader in decision support and data warehousing, providing integrated enterprise information-delivery solutions and e-business solutions. For more on DataFlux, visit:http://www.dataflux.com .