Abstract: A software adapter is controlled by metadata. For example, templates are provided for receiving information to define a specific adapter for converting a given source format to a given target format. Instead of coding a required data format transformation, the user fills out a template, and the template is stored into a database. The software adapter accesses that information to determine what information is mapped from the source stream to the target stream, and how to transform the mapped information. There is no need to update the information in the database unless there is a change in the source or target format of the mapped information. In a preferred implementation, the software adapter includes an administration tool and graphical user interface, a rule database, a formatting engine, a feed database, and a transformation engine.