Method and apparatus for matching non-normalized data values

A computer program product for matching non-normalized data values comprising:

• a computer usable memory medium having computer readable program code embodied therein wherein said computer readable program code comprises a matching executable unit configured to:
• present a transformation pane configured to manipulate a transformation name, field, wherein said transformation pane is configured to accept inputs that enable said matching executable unit to:
• substitute at least one character in said field with a second at least one character in said field;
• eliminate at least one punctuation character in said field;
• substitute at least one token in said field with a second at least one token in said field;
• eliminate at least one noise token in said field;
• collapse at least one variation of a name token in said field;
• accept a language layer from which to operate on a multi-lingual field;
• present a rules pane configured to manipulate a rule name, said field, function and at least one weight wherein said rule pane is configured to accept inputs that enable said matching executable unit to:
• add said at least one weight depending on a match result for a rule defined by said rule pane;
• present a strategies pane configured to manipulate a strategy name, a score, a threshold, and at least one rule wherein said strategies pane is configured to accept inputs that enable said matching executable unit to:
• execute a strategy comprising said at least one rule on a first set of records with respect to a second set of records;
• present at least one matching results column in a records pane;
• present a matches pane that lists all records that result from said execute of said strategy;
• present a merge pane that lists all records selected from said matches pane;
• and,
• accept input to merge at least two records displayed on said merge pane.