REPEAT/Microsoft Selects Template Graphics Software 3D Tools for Visual C++ 4.1 Release.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 12, 1996--Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) Tuesday announced that it will include 3D graphics development tools from Template Graphics Software (TGS) on the Visual C++(TM) 4.1 release.

The announcement was made at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference in San Francisco. The Visual C++ 4.1 will ship to more than 100,000 developers, who can use the graphics tools from TGS to create applications that are "Internet 3D Ready," including support for virtual reality modeling language (VRML), an Internet 3D standard.

"Providing our Visual C++ developer customers with Internet features was an important goal of the 4.1 release," said John Brown, Microsoft's product manager for Visual C++. "TGS's 3D tools provide excellent support for the VRML standard through MFC, AppWizards and ActiveX controls. Developers can focus on using 3D in their applications, rather than dealing with all the underlying technology."

Visual C++ 4.1 developers have use of the following tools: the Visual 3Space(TM) Browser Control; the Interactive Visual Framework IVF(TM), an Open Inventor(TM) 3D extension to MFC(R); and the Scene Viewer 3D desktop utility.

Visual 3Space Browser Control

TGS's Visual 3Space is an ActiveX(TM) Control which allows Visual C++ developers to quickly integrate 3D and VRML into their applications. Visual 3Space can be easily embedded into applications using the ActiveX Component Gallery provided in Visual C++. The control also allows 3D viewing inside Microsoft Word, Microsoft Access(TM), Microsoft Excel(TM), Microsoft Internet Explorer(TM) and other ActiveX container applications.

IVF and the IVF Custom AppWizard

The Interactive Visual Framework(TM) is an Open Inventor(TM) 3D extension to MFC on Windows(R) NT and Windows 95. The IVF Custom AppWizard for Visual C++ provides a number of IVF classes for quickly creating Windows based Open Inventor(TM) graphics applications including 3D viewers in walk, fly, examine and plane modes, as well as user interface controls for changing material properties and color attributes.

The IVF AppWizard is integrated into the New Project Workspace Wizard in C++ 4.1, and supports the VRML 1.0 subset of Open Inventor(TM) for Win32, a C++ class library for 3D graphics application development.

SceneViewer

SceneViewer, originally an Open Inventor based 3D viewing program written by Silicon Graphics(R), has been supplied as a Windows 3D desktop utility. It supports the VRML 1.0 file format and demonstrates the 3D application capabilities that can be created using the Open Inventor development library for Win32.

The SceneViewer utility can view 3D/VRML files available on the Internet, as well as output from popular 3D applications, including Autodesk 3D Studio(TM), PTC Pro/Engineer(TM), and Caligari Fountain(TM).

The TGS software tools will be included in all versions of Visual C++ 4.1, including Intel, MIPS, Alpha and PowerPC, as well as the Japanese version of Visual C++.

"3D and VRML are quickly moving mainstream," said Robert Weideman, TGS's vice president of marketing, "and our products are designed to integrate 3D easily into any application. We're impressed with the open platform represented by Visual C++ and have taken advantage of the AppWizard and ActiveX integration features for enhancing our products."

Weideman added that TGS is offering promotional pricing for Visual C++ 4.1 users interested in commercial versions of IVF with Open Inventor and the Visual 3Space Browser Control products.

Open Inventor is a general purpose 3D C++ class library developed by Silicon Graphics Inc. and source licensed to TGS. TGS delivers Open Inventor for PC and UNIX systems and was an early participant in establishing the VRML standard.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of computing every day.

San Diego-based Template Graphics Software Inc., along with their subsidiary G5G in Bordeaux, France, produces cross-platform graphics software for Fortune 500, government, independent software vendor, and academic and research organizations.

TGS has offered standards-based graphics tools for PCs to supercomputers since 1982, and is the largest independent software supplier of graphics tools based upon ANSI/ISO PHIGS+, Silicon Graphics' OpenGL(R) or Open Inventor.

Template Graphics Software is a member of ANSI/ISO X3H3 graphics committees, the OpenGL Advisory Forum, the VRML Technical Forum, and is active in establishing new standards and directions for computer graphics technologies.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Product art is available via http://www.tgs.com/Marketing/Press/. Visual 3Space is a trademark of Template Graphics Software Inc. Silicon Graphics, the Silicon Graphics logo and OpenGL are registered trademarks, and Open Inventor is a trademark of Silicon Graphics Inc. and are source licensed to Template Graphics Software Inc. MIPS is a registered trademark of MIPS Technologies Inc. Microsoft, PowerPoint, Visual C++, Visual Basic and ActiveX are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks belong to their respective companies.

CONTACT: Template Graphics Software Inc.

Diane Connolly, 619/457-5359, 619/452-2547 (fax)

http://www.tgs.com

or

The Townsend Agency

Julie Reynolds, 619/457-4888, 619/453-7010 (fax)