Considering other computer-assisted audit tools, such as IDEA or ACL? Or perhaps you already use them and have heard how easy it is to fit ActiveData into your existing mix of data analytics tools.

Whatever the case, we urge you to compare ActiveData's feature set and evaluate it to see how it can fit into your mix of data analytics and CAATs tools.

You might find that most, if not all of your analysis can be performed in the comfort of ActiveData and Excel at a fraction of the cost of the significantly more expensive offerings from ACL and IDEA.

Category Feature Video ActiveData * ACL IDEA
Analytical Features
Summarize
Statistics
Outlier Analysis
Stratification
Aging
Benford's Law
Random Sampling
Stratified Random Sampling
Monetary Unit Sampling
Duplicate Detection
Duplicate Deletion
Gap Detection
Cross Tabulate
Levenshtein Fuzzy Matching    
Worksheet / Table Manipulation
Join / Merge
Compare
Combine
Split
Query
Query By Example
Query By Match    
Duplication
Sort
Row Manipulation
Row Tagging / Ticking    
Insertion    
Duplication    
Blank Row Removal    
Column Manipulation
Calculated Columns
Split
Combine    
Arrange
Blank Column Removal    
Duplication    
Insertion    
Column Properties
Cell Manipulation
Cell Conversion    
Fill    
Transpose    
Cell Properties    
Workbook Manipulation
Workbook Navigation    
Global Find / Replace    
Workbook Indexing    
Workbook Navigation    
Worksheet Navigation    
Selection Navigation    
Workbook History    
Import Odbc Data
File And Folder Listings  
Other Features
Electronic Delivery    
Regular Expressions  
Audit Log
COM Automation    
Terminal Server
Silent Install

* ActiveData Professional Edition

Outfit your entire audit team with ActiveData for Excel for less than the cost of a single license for ACL or IDEA!.

More ActiveData vs ACL vs IDEA

Analysis Type Description ActiveData ACL IDEA
Append / Merge


Combines two files with identical fields into a single file. An example would be tomerge two years worth of accounts payable history into one file.
Audit Log

Maintains a documentation log of all procedures performed on a data file.
Calculated Field/ Functions



Created a calculated field (which can use a function such as ABS for the absolute value of the field) using data within the file. For example, the net payroll pay to an employee could be recalculated using the gross pay field and deducting any withholding/taxes.
Cross Tabulate


Cross Tabulate lets you analyze character fields by setting them in rows and columns. By cross-tabulating character fields, you can produce various summaries, explore areas of interest, and accumulate numeric fields.
Digital Analysis

Completes digital analysis tests (i.e., Benford’s Law).
Duplicates



Identifies duplicate items within a specified field in a file. For example, this report could be used to identify duplicate billings if invoices within the sales file.
Export



Creates a file in another software format (e.g., Excel, Word) for testing. An example would be to export customer address information to Word for "Mail Merge"ing to customer confirmation letters. *
Extract/Filter



Extracts specified items from one file and copies them to another file, normally using an "if" or "where" statement. Examples include extracting all balances over a predefined limit.
Gaps


Identifies gaps within a specified field in a file. For example, identify any gaps in check sequence.
Index / Sort



Sorts a file in ascending or descending order. An example would be sorting a file on social security number to see if any blank or "999999999" numbers exist. **
Join / Relate



Combines specified fields from two different files into a single file using key fields. This function is used to create relational databases on key fields. It can also be done in an unmatched fashion to identify differences between data files.
Sample

Creates random or monetary unit samples from a specified population.
Statistics

Calculates various statistics on a selected numeric field.
Summarize




Accumulates numerical values based on a specified key field. An example would be summarizing travel and entertainment expense amounts by employee to identify unusually high payment amounts.
Manipulate and mine data within existing Excel spreadsheets


Arrange columns, Add calculated columns, Match information based on fuzzy logic, Tag rows and columns of data based on specific criteria, Sort information to new sheets

* This is standard functionality within Excel
** Improves on standard Excel functionality, allows sort by double click at top of column


Outfit your entire audit team with ActiveData for Excel for less than the cost of a single license for ACL or IDEA!.

Discounts for Government, Educators, Non-profits and multiple licenses.

Need more power? Check out ActiveData for Office / SQL.

".. tools such as ACL and CaseWare IDEA have long been utilized, but an application called ActiveData brings many of their high-end capabilities to an Excel platform for a fraction of the cost ... making this an attractive competitive product that firms will actually use."

- Roman H. Kepczyk, CPA, The CPA Technology Advisor