Release 7.2 of OrCAD Express Supports New Xilinx SPARTAN and Actel MX FPGAs; New Express 7.2 Also Delivers Better VHDL Debugging Plus Support for High-Speed Board Design With Cadence Allegro.

BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 20, 1998--OrCAD(R) (NASDAQ:OCAD) today announced the next version of OrCAD Express(tm), its integrated application for both system-level and programmable logic design (PLD). OrCAD is the leading supplier of Windows(R) EDA software and services to electronics companies worldwide.

OrCAD Express combines project management, schematic entry, VHDL entry, schematic and VHDL simulation, and synthesis. Express also features built-in interfaces to the PLD place-and-route software for all the major vendors, including Xilinx, Altera, Lattice Semiconductor, Actel, Vantis, and Lucent. This new version of Express supports the new "ASIC replacement" FPGAs, such as the Xilinx SPARTAN and Actel MX FPGAs. Express 7.2 also gives the system design engineer many more VHDL language constructs to design and debug digital models.

"We are extremely pleased by growing customer acceptance of OrCAD Express," stated Troy Scott, technical product manager, OrCAD Express. "The enhancements in this new release of Express allow OrCAD's customers to target the highest density FPGAs available today, and extend their use of VHDL for system-level modeling."

OrCAD Express 7.2 -- New Features and Capabilities

-- New FPGA Support: Express now features built-in interfaces to the new Xilinx SPARTAN and Actel MX FPGAs. This lets designers plan an "ASIC replacement" FPGA in a product design. These new FPGAs provide the capacity, speed, and cost benefits previously available only in an ASIC implementation. Express 7.2 is compatible with Xilinx Alliance series vM1.4 and Actel Designer Series 3.1.1U1 place-and-route software.

-- Enhanced Schematic Entry: Express 7.2 includes all of the new productivity enhancements in the new 7.2 release of OrCAD Capture. Orthogonal wire and bus drag in the schematic editor eliminates manual cleanup when moving parts and wires. The new Auto Wire feature automatically routes wires between components as the user simply touches pins on one component to another, and drags the part to the desired location.

-- Enhanced PCB Interfaces: Forward- and back-engineering change order (ECO) support for the Cadence Allegro printed circuit board (PCB) layout system is now included. This supports the identification of design rules for high-speed layout on components or nets, and the importation of pin- and gate-swap adjustments made by Allegro. The PADS and Zuken-Redac CADSTAR interfaces have also been enhanced.

-- New VHDL Support: New recognition for multi-dimensional arrays, component configurations, aggregates, and block statements enables wider use of VHDL constructs to describe custom models. A new Multi-Level Undo feature allows engineers to restore changes made over time in the VHDL editor.

-- VHDL Sub-Program Debugging: New Stack View feature isolates and traces the behavior of VHDL models that use procedures or functions. This feature helps engineers to understand the results of a sub-program cell and watch the parameters and runtime variables. The result is tracking and eliminating bugs faster. The simulator's new icons visually represent VHDL data types and models, making it easier to quickly identify model contents.

Availability and Pricing

Release 7.2 of OrCAD Express is scheduled to ship worldwide in Q2, 1998. In North America, OrCAD Express is $5,995 (U.S.). Attractively priced upgrades are available for OrCAD Express customers. Customers whose OrCAD Express product is covered by a new product warranty or an OrCAD Extended Support Option will receive upgrades at no charge.

To order products or for more information, contact OrCAD DIRECT at 800/671-9505, visit www.orcad.com, or write to [e-mail].

For availability and pricing outside of North America, contact the authorized OrCAD technical reseller in your area; they are listed at www.orcad.com. Or, write to [e-mail].

About OrCAD

Founded in 1985, OrCAD, Inc. (NASDAQ:OCAD) is the leading supplier of Windows EDA software and services to electronics companies worldwide. The company's solutions increase productivity in the design of field-programmable gate arrayents of the worldwide electronics industry, including aerospace, telecommunications, industrial control, milid a software development center in Irvine, California.

In Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world, OrCAD is represented by a network of technical resellers. For more information, visit www.orcad.com.

-0-

Note: OrCAD is a registered trademark and all OrCAD product names are either registered trademarks or trademarks of OrCAD, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Alliance Group

Jean Armstrong, 503/293-5723

[e-mail]

or

OrCAD

Abbie Kendall, 503/672-4799

[e-mail]