Autodesk announces a new version of AutoSketch; Offering Custom Drawing Right Out of the Box on Windows 3.1 and Windows 95.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 1995--Today, Autodesk announced that AutoSketch Release 2.1 software is expected to be available within thirty-days. This powerful, yet easy-to-use, low-cost, drawing software offers new and enhanced features to first-time users of a drawing and drafting product.

"This is a perfect product for people who like using innovative software to design and then build their designs," said Robert Fassberg, product manager at Autodesk.

Flexible Drawing Tool

AutoSketch is ideal for those interested in creating technical diagrams, information graphics and presentations, concept sketches, patterns and templates. AutoSketch is an innovative design product offering precision, unlimited creative options, and a wide range of features.

Performance Improvements and New and Enhanced Features AutoSketch Release 2.1 now offers quicker performance for a number of common operations, plus several new and enhanced features. Performance improvements extend to start-ups and shutdowns, which are up to forty-percent faster; Zooms and Redraws are up to fifty-percent faster; and because of better memory management, editing operations, such as the MOVE command, are up to 400 percent faster. Features such as OLE (object-linking and embedding), bitmaps, Quick Text and TrueType font support have been enhanced.

New Features

Per the request of AutoSketch users, several new features have been added, including: Direct distance entry, which allows the user to move the mouse in the direction they want the line drawn and input the correct distance of the line using the keyboard; Polar Snap, enhances the Ortho letting users set the angle to restrict the cursor movement; New Macro Variables, macro writers can now access the dimensions of the current view and the extent of the drawing; and current layer visibility, lets users the current AutoSketch layer.

Windows 95 Compatibility

AutoSketch Release 2.1 has been designed to run on Microsoft Windows 95, as well as Windows 3.1 Users that are upgrading their operating system can now take advantage of the new AutoSketch interface.

For users requiring a more full-featured drafting product, AutoCAD LT Release 2, the world's leading low-cost, professional, 2D CAD product, now runs on Windows 95 and Windows 3.1.

Extra Value of CD-ROMs

AutoSketch R2.1 is available in a dual media package, giving users the opportunity to register either the CD-ROM or diskette version for one price. In North America, AutoSketch Release 2.1 software is available for a estimated street price (ESP) of US$99. Current AutoSketch users can upgrade for an ESP of US$29. In the U.S. and Canada, AutoSketch Release 2.1 customers can enjoy 30 days of free support by calling 206-487-0490. AutoSketch software can be purchased through CompUSA, Egghead, and several other authorized retail channels. To locate a retail channel near you, call Autodesk at 1-800-435-7771. International prices may vary.

Autodesk is the world's leading supplier of PC and UNIX- based design software and PC multimedia tools. The company's 2D and 3D products and data management tools are used in many industries for architectural design, mechanical design, film-making, videography and geographic information systems. The fourth largest PC software company in the world, Autodesk has three million customers in 118 countries. Autodesk products are sold through Autodesk Systems Centers, Dealers and Distributors worldwide.

For more information on Autodesk, please call 415-507-5000, type GO ADESK on CompuServe, or log-in with a World Wide Web browser at http://www.autodesk.com. -0- Note to Editors: Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, and AutoSketch are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. CompuServe is a registered trademark of H & R Block. All other brand names, products names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

CONTACT: Autodesk Inc.

Jennifer Heller, 415/507-6536

[e-mail]