Autodesk achieves important milestones in its MCAD strategy; company details major new industry initiative; adds updates to its family of MCAD products.

DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 1994--Autodesk, Inc., the world's leader in design automation software, Monday announced details of a major industry initiative in which Autodesk and seven leading application developers from the manufacturing industry plan to create a set of fully integrated, best-of-breed products for the entire design, analysis, and manufacturing process.

Autodesk also announced updates to its core mechanical design and drafting products, AutoCAD(R) Designer and AutoSurf(R) software.

Both products will feature AutoCAD(R) Release 13-compatibility and a new Microsoft(R) Windows(TM) interface. The AutoCAD Designer update will also include new, user-requested features and more documentation and training materials that make it easier to learn and use the product.

Autodesk also announced expected ship dates of AutoCAD Release 13 and AutoVision(TM) Release 2 software and detailed the Autodesk(R) Systems Centers program, created to reward dealers who provide superior application expertise and customer service and support.

These announcements were made at AUTOFACT '94, one of the premier computer technology events for the manufacturing market. Autodesk is also hosting and participating in several events during the four-day exposition, which is expected to draw more than 20,000 people.

Initiative Unites Companies to Develop Integrated Solutions

Autodesk and seven leading application developers in the manufacturing industry revealed plans to deliver fully integrated applications for the entire design, analysis, and manufacturing process. Called the Mechanical Applications Initiative (MAI), this is the industry's first program of its kind.

Major, sometimes competitive, software companies will work together to develop products that will offer the advantages of a fully integrated system while also providing customers with a choice of best-of-breed solutions. MAI partners are CAMAX Manufacturing Technologies, CIMLOGIC, Hitachi Zosen, ICEM Technologies, MacNeal-Schwendler, NC Microproducts, ANSYS (formerly Swanson Analysis Systems), and Autodesk.

The first deliverable of the MAI program, initially outlined in August, will be a mechanical application programming interface (API). This API will be rolled out in several phases, with the first phase introduced in mid-1995 as part of an AutoCAD Release 13 API. Each MAI partner has committed to ship one or more fully integrated, MAI-compatible applications.

Updates to Autodesk Core MCAD Products

Autodesk also announced updates to its core mechanical design and drafting products, AutoCAD Designer and AutoSurf. Both products feature AutoCAD Release 13-compatibility and a new Microsoft Windows interface. The AutoCAD Designer update offers 50 percent more documentation and training materials and new, user-requested features that make it easier to learn and use the product and to better understand 3D parametric design concepts.

A version of the AutoCAD Designer update will also be available running under AutoCAD Release 12.

-0-

-- AutoCAD(R) Designer 1.1 and 1.2. New Concepts tutorials help users better understand parametric design, constraint management, multipart modeling and related topics. Fourteen new commands and a new Windows graphical user interface make the product easier to use and learn. Product performance, in particular with large files, has been increased significantly, enabling exceptional capacity for a PC-based modeling system.

The new product also leverages off of features in AutoCAD Release 13: for example, users can create drawings from the AutoCAD Release 13 solid model. AutoCAD Designer 1.2, which works within both AutoCAD Release 13 for Windows and DOS, is expected to ship in February 1995.

AutoCAD Designer 1.1, which is compatible with Release 12, will be available for DOS in December 1994 and for Sun Solaris, HP-UX and IRIX in February. Current AutoCAD Designer customers can upgrade free of charge; the price for new users is US $1,500 (SRP).

-- AutoSurf(R) Release 2.1. Autodesk also announced a new AutoCAD Release 13-compatible update of its advanced, NURBS (nonuniform rational B-splines)-based, surface-modeling tool. The update, called AutoSurf Release 2.1, combines the same sophisticated shape-description capabilities as the AutoCAD Release 12-compatible version, with the powerful new features of Release 13.

These include improved performance, enhanced wireframing capabilities, built-in solid modeling, and enhanced rendering capabilities. Current AutoSurf customers can upgrade free of charge; the price for new users is US $1,500 (SRP).

Other AUTOFACT '94 Announcements

AutoCAD(R) Release 13. This new version of the world's leading computer-aided design (CAD) software tool is targeted to ship on Nov. 28, 1994. It includes more major drafting and design capabilities than any previous release, letting users create and edit drawings and 3D models more quickly and easily. A new, customizable Windows interface in Release 13 helps current AutoCAD users become more productive and makes learning the product significantly easier for new users.

Autodesk's investment in the new technology underlying Release 13 also results in faster independent developer applications and tighter integration with Microsoft Windows. More than 1,000 software developers are committed to ship AutoCAD Release 13-compatible applications within 90 days.

New Multimedia/Visualization Products

3D Studio(R) Release 4 shipped last month and AutoVision(TM) Release 2 software is expected to ship concurrently with AutoCAD Release 13. AutoVision Release 2 software is a photorealistic, still-rendering tool with extensive new features, including animation support for walk-throughs, flybys, and sun studies and improved rendering performance.

True 3D inverse kinematics provide 3D Studio customers with sophisticated new controls for creating mechanical animations. Autodesk(R) Systems Center (ASC). This new channel program allows Autodesk Dealers to earn special benefits by establishing themselves as industry experts and by providing superior levels of customer service and support.

Based on an extensive list of qualifications, ASC-certified Dealers will receive even greater market recognition, increased discounts, and marketing support from Autodesk.

Other AUTOFACT 'T94 Events

Autodesk is involved in many events and activities throughout the show. In addition to the products being demonstrated in the Autodesk Booth (No. 1222), Autodesk software is featured in many other booths on the show floor, including CAMAX Manufacturing Technologies, Hewlett- Packard, MacNeal-Schwendler, Microsoft, Silicon Graphics, and Spatial Technologies. Other Autodesk show activities include:

-0-

-- Sponsorship of an all-day, preshow workshop that showcases what customers can do with best-value CAD/CAM solutions. The workshop, Maximizing Your Capabilities for Minimum Cost, features more than 20 speakers including customers, industry experts, and vendors. Monday, November 14, Cobo Center, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

-- Autodesk will hold a press conference on Tuesday, November 15 from 10:00 a.m. - Noon at the Westin Renaissance Hotel in Detroit. Autodesk's Vice President of Marketing, James D'Arezzo, will brief press and market and financial analysts on the AUTOFACT announcements.

-- Autodesk President and CEO Carol Bartz will join several other chief executives for the RCEO Future Visions panel discussion. Bartz will outline where she sees the CAD/CAM industry moving over the next few years. Wednesday, November 16, Cobo Center, Noon.

-- Autodesk Mechanical Market Development Manager Steve Hard will participate in the panel discussion, Selecting a CAD Vendor. Vendors will discuss how users can evaluate and benchmark the latest CAD systems. Tuesday, November 15, Cobo Center, 9:30 a.m.

-- "Our theme this year is Autodesk and the Engineering Workteam U.S.," said Bartz. "This illustrates how both Autodesk and our partners provide customers with a choice of best-value, easiest-to-use solutions that cover every phase of the design-through-manufacture process. The new products, updates, new initiatives, and other announcements we are making today strengthen our collective ability to meet our customers' evolving needs."

Commenting on what users can expect from Autodesk in the future, Bartz added, "Customers can begin asking a lot more from their Autodesk and partner solutions. This show marks the start of what promises to be a very aggressive year for Autodesk in the mechanical design and engineering market."

Company Information

Autodesk is the world's leading supplier of computer-aided design automation software and the fifth-largest PC software company in the world. The company develops, markets, and supports a family of design automation and professional multimedia software and component technologies for use on personal computers and workstations.

A global company since its founding in 1982, Autodesk markets products in 115 countries and 18 languages. Autodesk shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol ACAD. For more information, please call 415-332-2344 or type GO ADESK on CompuServe(R).

Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, AutoCAD, AutoSurf, and 3D Studio are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. AutoVision is a trademark of Autodesk, Inc. Microsoft is a registered trademark, and Windows is a trademark, of Microsoft Corporation. CompuServe is a registered trademark of H&R Block. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

-0-

Note to Editors: Full news releases are available for each of the announcements. Please contact Andrew Mackles, Autodesk Public Relations, at 415/491-8778 for more information.

CONTACT: Autodesk Inc.

Andrew Mackles, 415/491-8778