Macola Software unveils Spanish version of software in Mexico City.

MEXICO CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 7, 1996--In line with its continued commitment to the Latin American marketplace, Macola Software unveiled the Spanish version of its Version 7.0 Progression Series Accounting and Distribution Software, a full-featured Windows product line, during a press conference this week at the El Hotel Presidente Inter-Continental here. This product line solution addresses the distribution and "quick-turn" manufacturing needs of Mexican-based companies and multi-national organizations with Mexican subsidiaries.

Release of Macola's Spanish version of its software strengthens the commitment the U.S.-based business software developer made to the Latin American marketplace over a year and one-half ago when it opened a Latin American office and over two years ago when it first delivered an international software to the marketplace with its Version 6.0 Progression Series. As a result of that office opening, a well-established channel of Macola business partners is now in place to provide Latin American customers with local service and support.

According to Alex Logan, director of Macola's Latin American office, "The release of Macola's Spanish Version 7.0 accounting and distribution software signifies a new level in its relationship with our Latin American business partners. This product release reinforces Macola's commitment to this marketplace as well as our intention to deliver an international product that will provide our business partners with a product line that is positioned as an important player in the Latin American marketplace."

Available July 1 in Spanish are six accounting modules and four distribution modules. The accounting modules are: General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Currency Manager, Bank Book and the WindowsPlus System Manager. Rolled out in the distribution line-up are Inventory Management, Bill of Material, Purchase Order/Receiving and Order Entry. Also included is complete documentation.

A new offering, this advanced Windows software for accounting and distribution is an all-encompassing graphical user interface (GUI) product with an extensive feature set that allows users to confidently run mission-critical accounting applications more effectively and profitably.

The Spanish Version Accounting solution includes:

-- Macola Software Version 7.0 Progression Series -- featuring

General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable,

System Manager and two new modules, Bank Book and Currency

Manager

-- The Designer -- a system manager feature for advanced screen,

menu and forms customization

-- Macola's Enterprise Reporting System (ERS) -- an enterprise-

wide reporting system

-- Report Scripts -- templates to customize all Progression

Series reports

-- F9 -- The Financial Reporter -- provides detailed financial

analysis and DDE hot link to Excel(R)

Version 7.0 Offers Enhanced Functionality

Just like the Version 7.0 Accounting modules, I/M, BOM, P/O, O/E and the DOS System Manager (which is in Early Release), are available on CD ROM, replacing the need for multiple diskettes and making installation a snap. The Distribution modules also offer the same advanced feature set and functionality as the Progression Series Accounting modules. New enhanced distribution functionality includes:

-- Extensive customization support including customization

control of all screens, menus and all reports and forms at

the user level without the need for source code.

Customizations created in Windows also can be utilized in

Macola's DOS Version.

-- Advanced graphical interface with full support for multiple

document interfacing, allowing users to take full advantage

of multi-tasking in a Windows environment.

-- Enterprise information management capabilities for improved

reporting and decision support by integrating Macola's

Enterprise Reporting System.

-- Advanced distribution features such as a lot/serial system

focused on FDA-regulated industries; multi-bin capabilities;

multi-currency order processing; receiving/inspection; real-

time credit management, and a rules-based configurator.

New Visual Tools Available

As part of its Progression Series initiatives, Macola Software is including some new tools, which are in Early Release, on the General Release CD. They are the Visual Bill of Material and the Visual Menu Builder, both of which streamline critical processes. The Visual Bill of Material enables users to visually build and maintain the product structure file, and the Visual Menu Builder, found within the System Manager, enables systems supervisors to set up users in a graphical interface. It is anticipated Macola's Assets and Depreciation module will enter Early Release this summer, along with a new Macola Distribution module for light manufacturers, Production Order Processing. Payroll is slated to enter Early Release this fall. Additionally, Macola is creating a utility that allows users to run Version 6.0 Payroll and Assets and Depreciation modules with their Version 7.0 Progression Series modules.

Only Solution Needed

Macola already had established a presence in the Mexican and Latin American marketplaces with its Progression Series Version 6.0 product line. Now with the release of its Version 7.0 Spanish offering, that presence escalates. Macola provides users the flexibility, features and ease-of-use inherent in advanced Windows functionality, coupling that with the strongest accounting and distribution software system in the industry. Explains Logan, "The Progression Series is the culmination of more than a decade of customer-driven development and enhancements, ensuring that users have the power they need today as well as the flexibility to grow as their company grows." As testimony to that, Version 7.0 offers more than 100 new features, executive integrated reporting tools and extensive customization capabilities as well as the debut of two new modules, Bank Book and Currency Manager. Macola's Progression Series WindowsPlus also accommodates business process re-engineering with its support of enterprise-wide data access and reporting. Internationally enabled, Version 7.0 has the ability to localize the features and power of the Currency Manager -- an absolute necessity for those conducting business in the international marketplace.

Designer Makes Customization Easy

In addition to its enhanced feature set, Version 7.0 also offers users the Designer that facilitates customization without source code and provides an exclusive range of customization features. For example, a user can define all screen layouts, prompts, add notes per screen or field, as well as move and change literals.

Reporting Options

Version 7.0 also includes the best the industry has to offer in fully integrated enterprise-wide reporting solutions: Macola's EnVision Series Enterprise Reporting System and F9 -- The Financial Reporter. Both are fully customizable reporting systems that are unmatched in their ability to provide users with unlimited management and financial operating options.

Technology Progression Path Expands

Version 7.0 extends the progression path from DOS to Windows conceived by Macola with its award-winning product line. With Version 6.0, Macola offered users a Windows/DOS product for those who wanted to safely and effectively move to the Windows environment. Version 7.0 expands Macola's Windows product offering to provide full Multiple Document Interface (MDI) and Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) as well as on-screen customization capabilities. Also available is a Windows/DOS version that allows users to customize screens in the Windows version and then see those changes automatically reflected in the DOS environment!

Latin American Progression Series

Macola's Progression Series focuses on any industry requiring accounting and distribution functionality to manage its business needs. The product line addresses industries with revenues ranging from $1 million to $50 million or higher, including single and multi-site distributors. The Progression Series Distribution modules incorporate all the advanced technology features found in the Version 7.0 Accounting modules.

Available is an International Accounting/Distribution bundle (which includes General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Currency Manager, Bank Book, Assets and Depreciation, Inventory Management, Order Entry, Purchase Order, Bill of Material and Production Order Processing). Also available are Latin America/Caribbean/Spanish single-user and multi-user dual System Managers. The WindowsPlus Multi-User System Manager includes Version 3.0 EnVision Series Enterprise Reporting System, Version 3.0 EnVision Report Scripts for Version 7.0 Progression Series, Version 7.0 Designer and F9 -- The Financial Reporter.

On The Horizon

In line with its position as the leader in the PC-based software manufacturing marketplace, Macola Software has created a new product line, the Horizon Series, to specifically address the needs of today's multi-faceted manufacturing environment. Macola's Version 7.0 Horizon Series will focus on a pure manufacturing market with a broad appeal to a diverse range of manufacturing users, including repetitive, discrete, job shop, light planning and control and enterprise manufacturing.

The Horizon Series will incorporate all of the advanced technology features from the Progression Series as well as the same accounting and distribution features with integrated access between distribution and manufacturing. The Spanish Version 7.0 Horizon Series is targeted for a phased product roll-out over the next 18 to 24 months.

Corporate Background

Macola Software specializes in the development of high-end accounting, distribution and manufacturing software for personal computers and LAN environments. With worldwide installations of more than 15,000 sites and more than 145,000 users, Macola has presence in more than 30 countries. Macola is a four-time winner of the PC Magazine/Price Waterhouse "Editor's Choice" award and winner of the 1994, 1995 and 1996 CTS Accounting Software Survey. In 1993, 1994 and 1995, Macola was named to Accounting Today's list of "Top 100 Accounting Software Products" and was included in Manufacturing Systems' 1994 List of "Top 50." Macola also is the recipient of a four-star rating from Software Digest/NSTL Publications and a two-time winner of LAN Magazine's Product of the Year award.

For More Information

For sales information about Macola Software products, call 800/468-0834 and contact the Macola Response Center at extension 550. For public relations-related questions, call 614/387-4477 and contact Phyllis S. Butterworth, manager of public relations, at extension 242.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The World Wide Web address in this release

should contain double slashes after "http:".

It is possible the slashes may not appear

properly in some systems.

CONTACT: Macola Inc., Marion, Ohio

Media Relations Group, 800/468-0834

Phyllis S. Butterworth, 800/468-0834 ext. 242