Autodesk Announces Powerful New Software Releases Focused on Optimizing Design Process, Collaboration, and Data Distribution.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 2001

Solutions Move Beyond Task Automation to Business Process Automation;

New Releases Are Highly Specialized by Industry

Responding to changing business and technical challenges faced by its customers, Autodesk (Nasdaq:ADSK) today unveiled its next generation of design software. The software extends the use of digital design data to improve customers' business processes by combining the power of the desktop with the distribution power of the Internet and mobile technologies. Across all product lines, from Architecture, Engineering and Construction, to Geographic Information Systems and Land Development, to Manufacturing, Autodesk is leveraging the power of the new AutoCAD(R) 2002 foundation to enhance specialized applications that emphasize collaboration and design process automation and integration. A table at the end of this document lists the two new products and 13 upgrades being announced today.

Autodesk's industry-specific design solutions go beyond design creation to connect project teams and move design data across value chains. From partners, to suppliers, to customers and more, Autodesk is helping make design data useful beyond the engineer and designer to include the business user -- resulting in new ways in which companies can use the information to drive new revenue streams, improve customer service, and streamline operations.

"The challenges facing our customers now go beyond using technology to perform a task. Customers need a solution that puts that task, along with many others in the design chain, into an automated and coherent process that mirrors how they work and collaborate with colleagues, partners, and customers," said John Sanders, executive vice president, Design Solutions Division. "For Autodesk, this means a heavy focus on developing industry-specific applications that are based on the power of the AutoCAD 2002 foundation and leverage digital design data. Most of the specialized applications being announced today feature all of the AutoCAD 2002 capabilities combined with specialized collaboration and process automation tools for accomplishing industry-specific tasks. This is a significant step not only for Autodesk as a company, but especially for our customers."

The Right Solutions for the Right Markets

Autodesk announced two new products and 13 product upgrades. The following is a brief description of the industries for which Autodesk provides solutions. For an in-depth look at the products and new features, please visit www.autodesk.com/pressmaterials.

Manufacturing: Autodesk and its partners offer a complete

manufacturing solution that unites the three competitive

challenges faced by small and mid-sized manufacturers: creation,

collaboration, and commerce. For design creation, Autodesk

Inventor(TM) software is the premier solution for 3D mechanical

design. New creation tools announced today include AutoCAD

Mechanical 6, the AutoCAD for mechanical designers and engineers

who prefer to design in 2D, and Autodesk(R) Mechanical Desktop(R)

6, a 3D feature-based modeler that unites 2D and 3D. Both AutoCAD

Mechanical 6 and Autodesk Mechanical Desktop 6 are based on the

new AutoCAD 2002 foundation. All three products drive customer

productivity and facilitate collaboration with the extended

manufacturing team with support for Autodesk Streamline(TM), a

hosted service for sharing personalized design data across the

entire extended manufacturing enterprise.

Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC): Autodesk's AEC

group is working to unify the players within the highly fragmented

building design industry. New Autodesk building design solutions

-- including the latest release of Autodesk Architectural Desktop

and the new building systems products (Autodesk Building

Mechanical and Autodesk Building Electrical to be released later

this year) -- significantly improve coordination among architects

and engineers. These solutions use a common building model that

offers consistent, integrated information throughout the design

process and throughout the building life cycle. As a result,

project quality is improved and design cycle time reduced.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Land Development: Today,

Autodesk also announced five product upgrades for GIS and land

development customers (see table below for product names).

Autodesk's GIS and land development software and services are used

by mappers, civil engineers, land planners, and other

professionals who deliver critical services in the utilities,

communications, and government sectors. Autodesk solutions

leverage location information to enhance customer care, increase

operational efficiency, and create new revenue opportunities.

Unlike GIS-only vendors, Autodesk addresses all phases of the GIS

and land development workflow, from planning and designing

infrastructure, to building and managing physical assets.

Leveraging Design Data with Mobile Technologies

Autodesk has pioneered mobile technology for professionals who need to review, mark up, and measure AutoCAD DWG and DXF(TM) drawings and mapping data at the point of work. Built for Microsoft(R) CE-based handheld and tablet computing devices, the Autodesk OnSite mobile solution (Autodesk OnSite Enterprise 2 and Autodesk OnSite View 2) enables individuals -- or entire teams -- to review design data anytime, anywhere.

New Options for Software Delivery and Deployment

Autodesk today also announced the launch of three new programs that make it easier for customers to purchase new Autodesk products and features. The programs also provide companies with more options for delivering Autodesk software to their users.

-- Autodesk Subscription Program -- Customers get quick and easy access via the
Internet to the latest Autodesk software upgrades and modular enhancements,
also known as extensions.

-- Autodesk Rental Products -- Customers can use Autodesk's software for
30, 60, or 90 days without committing to a perpetual license.

-- Autodesk Self-Hosted Products -- Companies can use Autodesk software across
multiple desktops via a central server hosted by the customer.

For more information on these programs, please see Autodesk's announcement today on software delivery programs.

Products Announced Today (Note: New Products in Bold)

Product Line     Products
------------     -----------------------------------------------------

Manufacturing    -- AutoCAD Mechanical 6    -- Autodesk Mechanical
                                               Desktop 6
Architecture,
 Engineering,
 and
 Construction    -- Autodesk Architectural  -- Autodesk Building
                    Desktop 3.3                Mechanical
                 -- Autodesk Building
                    Electrical

GIS and Land
 Development     -- Autodesk Map 5          -- Autodesk Land Desktop 3
                 -- Autodesk Civil Design 3 -- Autodesk Survey 3
                 -- Autodesk OnSite 2

General Design   -- AutoCAD 2002            -- AutoCAD LT(R) 2002
                 -- Autodesk CAD Overlay(R) -- Autodesk OnSite 2
                    2002
                 -- Volo View 2             -- Volo View Express 2

About Autodesk

Autodesk (Nasdaq:ADSK) is the world's leading design software and digital content company for architectural design and land development, manufacturing, utilities, telecommunications, and media and entertainment. Founded in 1982, Autodesk provides design software, Internet portal services, wireless development platforms, and point-of-location applications that empower more than four million customers in over 150 countries to drive business and remain competitive. 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.

Note to Editors: Autodesk, AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, Mechanical Desktop, and CAD Overlay are registered trademarks, and Volo, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Streamline, DXF, and Discreet are trademarks, of Autodesk, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.