Cephren Streamlines Workflow Through Autodesk AutoCAD and MS Office Desktop Application Integration.

Business Editors and Technology Writers

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 10, 2000

Today, Cephren(R) announced that ProjectNet(R) customers can now open, edit and save documents directly to Cephren ProjectNet from within desktop applications like MS Office(R) of CAD software. Cephren ProjectNet, the award-winning online project collaboration service, helps owners, developers, architects, engineers and contractors to accelerate time to market, reduce risk and uncertainty, and increase revenues through one secure, Web-based solution. Cephren ProjectNet, designed by industry veterans for ease of use and scalability, enables project team members to have instant access to the most timely and accurate project information -- thereby reducing errors, missed deadlines, and project delays caused by incomplete information and poor communication.

Now with ProjectNet's streamlined approach to saving and opening documents through desktop applications, ProjectNet customers have an easier and faster way to manage their documents while working within a familiar interface. Customers can browse documents residing in ProjectNet, open a document directly, and edit or update or save the document directly back to ProjectNet from within the application.

"Our customers now have a choice," said Cephren Chief Technology Officer, Ashok Segu, "Cephren ProjectNet supports two different ways of working within your existing environment. Now a ProjectNet user can browse, open, edit, and save files, for example an AutoCAD or MS Office document or by using ProjectNet Neighborhood: which provides a seamless access to ProjectNet using Windows File Explorer(R). Within ProjectNet Neighborhood(R), the user can schedule file uploads with full support for compound CAD documents, view and download files."

About Cephren

Cephren (www.cephren.com) is changing the way the world is built with its leading framework of Web-based collaboration and e-commerce services -- ProjectNet(R), MarketNet(TM) and PrintNet(TM). Through its integrated online services, the company seeks to increase revenues, reduce risk and improve time-to-market for the $3.2 trillion global building construction industry. Cephren is an industry pioneer serving this market and currently has more than 800 firms using its online network, representing 10,000 named subscribers and 350+ projects on five continents with construction value that exceeds $40 billion. Cephren's framework of services is currently being used at internationally renowned firms including The Bechtel Group, Morrison Knudsen, Webcor Builders, Gensler, HOK, 3Com, Odebrecht, and BSW International. Cephren's e-commerce charter customers include Mass Electric Construction Company, E-J Electric Co., J.A. Penney Co., Liberty-Wesco, Fischbach & Moore LLC, DualStar Technologies, Forest Electric (EMCOR), Midwest Mechanical of New Jersey, and Watsco. Cephren has approximately 160 employees and is based in Palo Alto, California with offices across the United States and in the United Kingdom. Cephren works through resellers in other parts of Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

(C) Copyright 2000 Cephren, Inc. All rights reserved. Cephren, the Cephren logo and Cephren ProjectNet are registered trademarks and Cephren MarketNet, Cephren PrintNet and Change The Way You Build The World are trademarks of Cephren, Inc. in the USA and other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.