Many Methods of Transformation
Applaud supports a wide variety of transformation processes. Applaud can perform look-ups (sometimes called cross-walk tables or cross-reference tables) from essentially any data source including RDBMS tables, Excel files, flat files, Applaud's data repository, and Applaud's unique "Table Look-Up" feature.

Look-up processes may be single table or include multiple tables and may support negative as well as positive processes (i.e., it matches if A is true and B is false). Ranges of dates, numeric values and code variables may be used as well as exact matches. Any number of look-ups may be tied together to support the most complex look-up requirement.

Built-In Programming Language
In addition to Applaud's look-up capabilities, Applaud provides an intuitive programming language. Applaud's programming language may be inserted into any Applaud "Specification" (i.e., the non-programming features in Applaud's rapid application development tools). Since Applaud's non-programming interface is so comprehensive, the programming language is straightforward – so straightforward in fact that it only includes 22 instructions. Literally everything else is handled in Applaud's non-programming GUI interface.

For Business Analysts Too
Since Applaud's programming language is intuitive and straightforward; Applaud development is not limited to programmers and developers. Business analysts can quickly become adept at Applaud development.

Robust Debug Feature
Applaud also includes a full-screen debug facility to allow users to view programming code as it operates real-time. Features are included to enable users to set "watch" variables, set break points, and see all values in the Data Dictionary as the code operates real-time. This further speeds the response to specification changes and reduces the likelihood of bugs.

Test Transformations without Loading to the Target System
In addition, Applaud's data repository allows users to simulate the target system tables and test the transformation components without a connection to the target system. It is literally possible to build and test all transformation logic while not connected to the target database, and then plug in the target database for the test loads and "go-live" dates. This dramatically reduces the effort needed to build and unit-test components compared to other alternatives.

Analyze Transformation Results
Applaud's analysis tools are designed to be used to test the results of transformations as well as to analyze the relationships of source data. For example, it is easy to build reports that display the "before" and "after" data in transformations. In fact, it is so easy to embed reports in transformations; in most Applaud projects literally every transformation is validated. This further speeds the development activities and ensures the quality of the transformations.

Integrated Load Tools
In most cases, following transformation, Applaud's integrated load tools are used to load the results of transformation into the target system.