IRI Software unveils first OLAP object- oriented groupware tool; New ExpressView enables cooperative analysis of data-warehouse data without IS intervention.

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 22, 1995--IRI Software today unveiled ExpressView, the first object-oriented groupware tool for On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) that enables business users to freely access, analyze and share the "business intelligence" buried within their corporate databases and data warehouses.

ExpressView is the industry's only multidimensional OLAP tool designed specifically for end users. It transcends conventional Windows data dippers and SQL query tools by enabling users to build their own interactive briefings utilizing live "data-smart" objects -- without the help of IS staff -- and share the briefings across networks using any standard E-mail product.

ExpressView's data-smart objects include live tables, graphs and data selections linked to IRI Software's Express multidimensional OLAP server. Instead of the static views and two-dimensional content that data dippers provide, ExpressView lets users navigate, analyze and report on any dimensions of the organization -- such as products, time periods, markets, financial accounts and organizational hierarchy -- in a way that makes sense to them. Users do not need to know the underlying database structure or complex SQL coding.

"With ExpressView, IRI Software has developed a new breed of 'business intelligence' software for the casual and power user. ExpressView brings real object-oriented OLAP power to bear on complex data access and analysis," said Robert Moran, senior analyst, Complex Decision Support, the Aberdeen Group.

ExpressView is a new kind of 32-bit, Windows 95-ready application designed for knowledge workers across a range of industries and organizations. It lets users sift through huge amounts of corporate data in ways not possible with traditional database query or simplistic spreadsheet interface tools. The software enables them to answer extremely complex business questions they couldn't answer before on their own, such as:

o "What were the top five products sold in the East based on net profit in July, broken out by city?"

o "How did our market share and our competitor's share change compared to the same period last year?"

o "What sales territories grew at a faster rate year-to-date than my benchmark mid-Atlantic region?"

"ExpressView adds a powerful ad hoc analysis capability to the existing IRI Software tools. Developers can quickly set up 'Briefing Books' for novice end users, enabling them to easily access a whole new dimension of information," said Richard Guarino, manager of human resource information systems at AT&T. "ExpressView is also perfect for experienced analysts. The software allows them to delve into any areas they need to analyze, and provides them with powerful GUI techniques, such as drag-and-drop, to slice and dice the multidimensional data."

Supports OLE 2.0 Objects

ExpressView also supports Microsoft's Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) 2.0 objects. In addition to live tables, graphs and reports, ExpressView briefings can contain objects of any OLE 2.0-supported applications, such as Lotus Notes, Paradox files or Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access and Powerpoint) documents.

OLE 2.0 support makes ExpressView significantly more powerful users can provide a complete briefing to colleagues and senior management, with supporting documents, spreadsheets, presentations, multimedia and other files from OLE-compatible Windows applications.

ExpressView defined

ExpressView allows users to quickly navigate, analyze and organize their analysis and easily share the results across the organization. In addition to working as a standalone tool, ExpressView works with IRI Software's Express applications, including Express Financial Management System, DataServer Analyzer and Express EIS.

With ExpressView's object-oriented interface, users can create and modify briefings simply by dragging, dropping and clicking on icons of ExpressView objects. For example, they can drag a measure, like Sales, onto the desktop and ExpressView automatically creates a report or graph of sales, displayed by product markets and time. They can also populate the page with additional reports, graphs, text and OLE-linked documents, as well as buttons for custom navigation.

"The intuitive analysis metaphors and visual development capabilities make ExpressView a strong client alternative for distributed OLAP applications," said Clare Gillan, director, Applications and Information Access, International Data Corporation.

Since ExpressView objects are data-smart (linked to live, multidimensional datasets and aware of how to operate on them), users can also change the properties of an object. The software features an Object Inspector that gives users instant feedback on object editing. When changes are made to properties in the Object Inspector window, they are immediately seen in the corresponding object.

To simplify the definition and maintenance of Express databases, ExpressView also features a visual database definition and loading utililty. The utility functions include defining and editing dimensions, variables, formulas, hierarchies and other database objects. The graphical tools can also be used for importing data from ODBC-compliant data sources, ASCII files and other Express databases.

Availability and Pricing

ExpressView is available immediately with U.S. list pricing of $1,295, which includes a single user version of the Express OLAP engine.

IRI Software, headquartered in Waltham, Mass., develops and markets Express, a client/server OLAP software development environment that turns corporate data into business intelligence for marketing, sales, financial and executive applications. The company is a business of Chicago-based Information Resources, Inc., (Nasdaq/IRIC), which provides a variety of software and information services for improved end-user decision making. -0-

Express is a trademark of Information Resources, Inc.

CONTACT: Laura Desmarais

Beaupre & Co. Public Relations 

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or

Ed Hutchinson

IRI Software

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