Intergraph Corporation Announces Plan to Use Microsoft Repository in Next Generation of Ship Design and Construction Products.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 8, 1997--Intergraph Corporation (Huntsville, Ala.) (NASDAQ/NMS: INGR) announced today its intention to use Microsoft Repository(R) in its next-generation of integrated ship design and construction products. The next-generation system - known as Integrated Product Development Environment - is being developed in collaboration with Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a consortium of top international shipbuilders, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency/Maritime Technology Program (DARPA/MARITECH).

The next-generation software architecture is built on Intergraph's 'Jupiter' technology. Jupiter consists of ActiveX components for creating multi-tier engineering applications that require large-scale, 3D product model databases. This environment, based on the Microsoft Windows(R) platform, will streamline the development of 3D graphic systems. The new generation software will also manage the graphic and non-graphic database associated with 3D product model environment. This effort responds directly to the rapidly increasing need for new technology to support new methods and processes to improve efficiency and competitiveness on a truly global scale.

"We are pleased that Intergraph is participating in the design review for Microsoft Repository data warehousing extensions," said Lloyd Arrow, Repository Product Manager, Microsoft Corporation. "Their experience in large scale graphics applications and information systems brings a key perspective to the process and aids in our collective goals to help reduce the cost and complexity of data warehouse system deployment."

"Intergraph views Microsoft's Repository technology as a key to future integration of engineering application data with information that is traditionally managed redundantly and separately by Product Data Management (PDM) systems," said Robert Patience, Vice President of Intergraph Marine Products. "Ultimately, this architecture will provide an extremely flexible, but highly integrated data management environment that spans the enterprise and finally bridges the gap between engineering and manufacturing functions," said Patience.

Today, there are few mechanisms to integrate the complex variety of third-party business-layer components developed by different vendors across the entire enterprise. This lack of mechanisms also has limited the wider application of component technology in general. Intergraph is working with Microsoft in an ongoing review process for the Repository Open Information Model. This information model, including Microsoft's support for the Unified Modeling Language (UML), provides the industry with a consistent format for storing data, software components, and descriptive information about component interoperability.

Required functionality such as versioning, workspace management, security, query support, transaction handling, and workflow management required by the business components has been developed by various vendors independently, and are therefore inconsistent with one another. This has led to application frameworks and framework-dependent components, as opposed to independent, interchangeable components.

Microsoft Repository, along with Microsoft Transaction Server, will form a data management that permits the creation of integrated business-layer components -- regardless of which vendor develops them. This development process will function in much the same way as creating reusable, third-party Graphics User Interface (GUI) components (ActiveX controls) for users of Visual Basic.

More on Intergraph

A member of the Fortune 1000, Intergraph Corporation (Huntsville, Ala.) is the world's largest company dedicated to supplying interactive computer graphics systems. Products range from point solutions, meeting individual and departmental needs, to integrated, enterprisewide systems. Noted for delivering interoperable systems and applications, Intergraph bases its products on Windows, Windows NT, and UNIX operating systems.

The company has three primary business units: Intergraph Computer Systems (ICS) develops Intergraph hardware products, including workstations, PCs and servers. Intergraph Software Solutions (ISS) develops integrated software for the Technical Desktop - the combination of compatible technical applications include computer-aided design, engineering, analysis, manufacturing, publishing, mapping, and geographic information systems. ISS also provides core system software, high-end applications, and training, consulting, and implementation services. Intergraph Federal Systems (IFS) markets and sells Intergraph products, including commercial-off-the-shelf and specially designed products. IFS also provides services and specialized engineering expertise to support the unique technical requirements of government programs and agencies around the world. IFS has long been the No. 1 provider of computer graphics solutions to the U.S. government. -0-

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CONTACT: Intergraph Corp., Huntsville

John Romero, 205/730-7762, [e-mail]