Autodesk Announces AutoCAD LT 2000.

Next Generation of No. 1 Low-Cost 2D Design Software Increases User

Productivity Across Extended Design Teams

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Aug. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced AutoCAD LT(R) 2000 software, the only affordable 2D drafting solution offering greater performance, ease-of-use, drawing productivity, accessibility to design data, and seamless integration with AutoCAD(R) 2000 software. As part of Autodesk's Design 2000 family of products, AutoCAD LT 2000 brings unmatched functionality and compatibility across all Autodesk(R) solutions to new-to-CAD users, occasional drafters, and extended design teams. With this release, Autodesk achieves a new level in the high-volume CAD category by offering users many sophisticated yet easy-to-use features such as the AutoCAD(R) DesignCenter(TM), Multiple Design Environment (MDE), 100 percent round-trip AutoCAD 2000 drawing compatibility and increases in performance. AutoCAD LT 2000 is based on the fully reengineered AutoCAD 2000 software. AutoCAD is a known and understood CAD tool valued by more than two million design professionals around the world.

According to Michael Westfall, owner and senior designer at MARTECH Technical Services, "With its Multiple Design Environment and new DesignCenter features, AutoCAD LT 2000 allows us to get work done faster. The new plotting interface allows awesome hard-copy flexibility. This is by far the most capable AutoCAD LT yet to be released. No other CAD product in this price range has the depth or power to match AutoCAD LT 2000."

"AutoCAD LT 2000 is a powerful and comprehensive program with a wide variety of applications. It is easily used to maintain our twenty-two laboratory layouts and keep them current," said John H. Burger, the Corporate Occupational Safety/Health/Environmental Officer (COSHEO) at Woodson - Tenent Laboratories, Inc. "There is a tool for almost anything that needs to be done, and the use of these tools is straightforward. Of all the programs I use on a continuous basis, AutoCAD LT 2000 is a joy."

A proven favorite in the affordable 2D CAD category, AutoCAD LT software is an established industry leader and has been ranked No. 1 in revenue for the last four years according to PC Data. Used by more than one million architects, engineers, designers, drafters and managers, AutoCAD LT is the perfect solution for users across extended design teams including large corporations, partners and collaborators that drive projects, as well as the small to mid-sized companies and independent consultants that bid to participate in various project phases. Team members outside the core design staff typically use the AutoCAD LT professional program for editing, light drafting, and review and approval functions -- adding expertise to the original CAD drawings. These users want an affordable, yet sophisticated drafting solution that ensures design excellence, drawing compatibility and minimal project risk.

Design Sharing and Compatibility

AutoCAD LT 2000 software provides an economical channel for design collaboration and information sharing among team members, partners and clients. The new ePlot feature lets users electronically plot drawings to the Web using DWF (drawing web format) files, greatly enhancing online collaboration.

In addition, its native AutoCAD 2000 DWG compatibility uniquely positions it as the only low-cost, professional, 2D CAD solution that offers 100 percent round-trip data integrity and visual fidelity with AutoCAD 2000 software. The Y2K-compliant software also offers round-trip compatibility with AutoCAD Release 14, AutoCAD Release 13, AutoCAD LT 97 and AutoCAD LT 98.

Drawing Productivity Enhancements

Increasing overall user productivity resides at the core of this new AutoCAD LT release. The new Multiple Design Environment available with AutoCAD LT 2000 increases overall performance, productivity and intuitiveness by allowing customers to open and work in several drawings simultaneously. For example, customers can easily copy properties with a click of the mouse to standardize drawings, eliminating numerous time-consuming steps.

"Recognizing that design is a competitive advantage for businesses, we've enhanced AutoCAD LT 2000 with a smarter design environment and feature set so customers can leverage existing data to significantly improve their

productivity and ultimate project success," said Dominic Gallello, executive vice president of Autodesk's Design Solutions Division.

The new Properties window lets users easily edit drawing attributes in a form-based dialog box without leaving the design. The new multiple layouts feature lets customers consolidate multiple drawing sheets into a single drawing file, increasing DWG file flexibility by providing more information in a single DWG file.

To further increase drawing productivity, the new Autodesk Symbols 2000 package, also announced today, integrates more than 12,000 pieces of industry-standard architectural, mechanical and electronic content into AutoCAD LT 2000 and AutoCAD 2000.

Visual Feedback and Intuitive Interface

AutoCAD LT 2000 software offers a complete software environment for extended design team members to access, reuse, manipulate and supplement original AutoCAD designs and integrate Microsoft Office applications with point-and-click ease. The AutoCAD DesignCenter feature takes the Content Explorer(TM) feature found in previous versions of the software to new heights by allowing users to manage all of the drawing's components, not just blocks. It offers a familiar Microsoft Explorer-like drag-and-drop interface for easy application and reuse of not only blocks, but also layers, linetypes, text styles, dimension styles, layouts and hatch patterns from CAD libraries and existing drawings to greatly enhance user productivity.

Previously supported during plotting alone, the Lineweights feature that customers use to create emphasis now provides visually accurate representations on-screen as well. This enhancement gives users greater drawing control and flexibility, and reduces guesswork and setup time prior to plotting. Polar Tracking replaces the PolarSnap(TM) feature found in previous versions, now allowing users to track to any desired angle versus only preset increments to offer greater precision and efficiency.

Rapid Learning

Autodesk enhanced AutoCAD LT software's award-winning HTML-based online help for this release. It is specifically targeted for AutoCAD LT customers using CAD software for the first time, giving them easy online access to the information they need, and takes experienced AutoCAD LT users to the next level of productivity. Another tool fostering easy learning includes an enhanced, award-winning AutoCAD LT Learning AssistanceO multimedia online tool, helping new and experienced CAD users master fundamental and advanced features at their own pace. Finally, the new Flyout Help feature expands dialog boxes with additional contextual information.

System Requirements 

Minimum system requirements include Windows 98, Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0; Pentium CPU; 32MB RAM; 73MB of free hard disk space; VGA display (800 X 600 recommended); CD-ROM drive and a Windows-compatible mouse.

The Autodesk Design 2000 Initiative

Autodesk's Design 2000 initiative ensures that customers across multiple markets and disciplines can leverage the full power of its software in a simple, intuitive way. Under the Design 2000 initiative, Autodesk is introducing AutoCAD LT 2000 software as part of a new series of products based on the AutoCAD 2000 platform for the architecture, land, GIS and mechanical marketplaces. In addition to AutoCAD LT 2000, these Design 2000 products include AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD Map(R) 2000, Autodesk(R) CAD Overlay(R) 2000, AutoCAD(R) Land Development Desktop Release 2, Autodesk(R) Civil Design Release 2, Autodesk(R) Survey Release 2, AutoCAD Architectural Desktop(TM) Release 2, Mechanical Desktop(R), AutoCAD(R) Mechanical 2000 and Autodesk Symbols 2000.

Pricing and Availability

The English language version of AutoCAD LT 2000 software is expected to be available this fiscal quarter in the United States and Canada at an estimated street price of US$559. Upgrade versions will be available at an estimated street price of US$199. AutoCAD LT 2000 will be available through preferred software resellers, Authorized Autodesk Resellers or directly from Autodesk. Customers in North America can purchase multiple licenses of AutoCAD LT 2000 at a discount through the Autodesk Open License Program (AOLP). Pricing and availability will vary outside North America -- please contact your local reseller or Autodesk office for details. Additional information for the United States and Canada can be found on the Internet at www.autodesk.com/autocadlt.

French, Italian, German, Spanish and Japanese versions of AutoCAD LT 2000 will be available within 30 to 60 days following the release of the English language version, with other international language versions available at a later date. Prices will vary outside the United States and Canada. Please contact your local office for regional pricing information.

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading supplier of PC design software and digital content creation tools. One of the largest PC software companies in the world, Autodesk has more than four million customers in over 150 countries. For more information, contact any Authorized Autodesk Reseller, call Autodesk at 800-964-6432, or visit www.autodesk.com. Discreet(TM) product information is available at 800-869-3504 or via the web at www.discreet.com. Autodesk shares are traded on the Nasdaq national market under the symbol ADSK.

The foregoing statements regarding anticipated availability of AutoCAD LT 2000 are forward-looking. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ are the following: the timely completion of the AutoCAD LT 2000 evaluation period, the timely shipment of AutoCAD LT 2000 and the market acceptance of AutoCAD LT 2000. Further information on potential factors that could affect the financial results of Autodesk are included in the company's Form 10-Q for the first fiscal quarter ended April 30, 1999, which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

NOTE: Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Map, Mechanical Desktop and CAD Overlay are registered trademarks, and AutoCAD Architectural Desktop, DesignCenter, Content Explorer, PolarSnap, AutoCAD LT Learning Assistance and Discreet are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the United States and/or certain other countries. All other brand names, product names or trademarks are used solely for the purpose of identification and belong to their respective holders.