New CoCreate Solutions Let Engineers Collaborate Across Time and Space; Dynamic Relations, 3-D Modules Work with New SolidDesigner Release.

FORT COLLINS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 1996--CoCreate Software Inc. today announced a new version of its SolidDesigner software for mechanical computer-aided design (MCAD) that supports two important new modules for enabling co-creative product development.

A new Dynamic Relations module lets engineers create and change relationships between individual parts and their assemblies anytime during the design process. A new 3-D Viewing, Annotation and Conferencing module lets engineers work simultaneously in the same virtual world across time and distance through computer video conferencing.

CoCreate Software Inc., a recently announced Hewlett-Packard Company software subsidiary that develops next-generation MCAD and product-data-management solutions, also announced new releases of its SolidDesigner, SheetAdvisor software for sheet-metal design, STEP translator for assembly handling, ME10 solution for 2-D documentation and design, and new 3-D and 2-D parts libraries.

"The combination of Dynamic Relations, the 3-D modules and new releases of our core software are significant steps forward toward delivering a next-generation product-development environment that will enable engineers to collaborate across time and distance," said Tilman F. Schad, CoCreate's president. "In the environment we envision, engineers will modify designs easily and dynamically, and share information and explore new ideas while staying focused on the critical business issues of quality, cost and time to market. These new products and modules are important elements for enabling virtual engineering teams because they let users define their design intent and communicate that intent to others on the team."

NEW MODULES SUPPORT CO-CREATION IN DESIGN

Working in conjunction with SolidDesigner's dynamic-modeling capability, the Dynamic Relations module is the first solution that allows users to define the relative positions of parts and assemblies on-the-fly and at any time during the development process. This capability frees the designer to specify and convey design intent to other team members as it evolves.

The Dynamic Relations module evaluates all user-defined relationships and dynamically updates the relationship between parts and assemblies whenever a relationship is changed. Defined relationships may be based on values (such as distance or angle relationships); on logic (such as parallel, perpendicular or coaxial relationships); or they may be based on formulae. This is an important distinction: In some approaches, users must understand the intent in the original design before making additions, modifications or deletions; otherwise, they could affect relationships with other parts in the assembly. Moreover, Dynamic Relations gives designers an additional set of parts-positioning capabilities, unlike solutions that prescribe a strict approach.

The 3-D Viewing, Annotation and Conferencing module gives engineers real-time, simultaneous access to the same virtual world. Engineers in disparate geographic locations can see a common view of the model and individual annotations as if all conference participants were in the same place.

Both Dynamic Relations and the 3-D Viewing, Annotation and Conference modules work with the new release of SolidDesigner 4.5, which also includes improvements in case-handling for modeling and modification commands, a special command that compensates for shrinkage of plastic parts, performance and quality improvements in 2-D documentation of solid models, and a new graphical browser. Further, Solid Designer 4.5 now can be ordered with a new integrated solution for product-data management.

Additional new releases and modules also announced by CoCreate today include the following: -0-

    -- improved documentation and solid-model associativity in the
       ME10 2-D software;

    -- new flattening capabilities for sheet-metal cones and swept
       splines in SheetAdvisor 4.5;

    -- new assembly-handling capabilities in CoCreate's STEP
       translator; and

    -- two new 3-D standard-parts libraries that speed up the design
       process.

U.S. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY

    All product releases and modules are expected to be available in
November.

    SolidDesigner 4.5 MCAD software                   $11,500

    Dynamic Relations module                            3,000

    3-D Viewing, Annotation and Conferencing module     2,730

    Sheet Advisor                                       8,000

    ME10 Annotation                                     4,600

    Data-exchange bundle (IGES, STEP and STL)           5,000

    50-part library                                     1,625

    100-part library                                    2,250

CoCreate Software Inc. is a software subsidiary of Hewlett-Packard Company. It develops 2-D and 3-D mechanical computer-aided-design and product-data-management software. The company's solutions are known for high quality, ease of use, customization capability and support of industry standards. They are available in 10 languages and are installed on more than 90,000 systems in design, engineering and manufacturing organizations worldwide.

Information about CoCreate Software Inc. can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.cocreate.com.

CONTACT: CoCreate Software Inc.

Gary McCormack, 970/229-2370

or

CoCreate Software Europe

Sally Auch, [phone]