State Of The Art Ships Acuity Financials.

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 1996--

A Perfect Fit for Companies That Are Right-Sizing and Up-Sizing

into the NT/SQL Server Space, Acuity Financials is the

only Internet-ready Client/Server Accounting Package

Based Upon 100 Percent Microsoft Technology

State Of The Art, Inc. (SOTA) has begun shipping Acuity Financials(tm), the only Internet-ready, mid-range client/server accounting package available today that is based entirely upon Microsoft(r) tools and technologies. Available for Windows95 clients and Windows NT servers, Acuity utilizes Microsoft's SQL Server(tm) database. The software is developed for middle-market companies, with revenues ranging from $50 to $220 million, that require the benefit of client/server accounting. Acuity Financials(tm) is a perfect fit for companies that are both up-sizing and right-sizing into the NT/SQL Server(tm) mid-range corporate accounting market segment.

Microsoft Internet development tools plug right into the Acuity Financials accounting products. Because it is based upon 100% Microsoft technology, Acuity will allow the customer to get the newest SOTA upgrades quickly utilizing emerging technologies from Microsoft. Acuity also allows users to integrate the products and services from the growing network of Microsoft Solutions Providers (MSP's).

By exploiting mainstream Microsoft technology including Internet Information Server(tm) (IIS), DB Web extensions of SQL Server 6.5, ProxyServer and expected Active Document support of Visual Basic 5.0, users can access Acuity via the Internet. "For example," explains David Hanna, chairman and CEO of State Of The Art(tm), "road warriors who need to access a customer's credit status can securely connect to their company's accounting data directly from their hotel rooms. They can access the desired information as an Active Document or HTML format from within a web browser direct from the SQL Server Database of Acuity Financials."

Modules available include System Manager, General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Multi-Currency, as well as HR/Payroll from Best! Software, Inc., providing a complete set of easy-to-use, flexible applications for core accounting requirements utilizing client/server technology.

Crystal Reports(r), from Seagate Software, is included with the System Manager and embedded in all Acuity Financials applications standard and graphical reports. In addition, reporting tools from FRx(r) in the General Ledger module combine an intuitive graphical user interface with flexibility and processing speed.

"By leveraging its leadership role, technical expertise, relationships with Microsoft and corporate stability, State Of The Art is positioned to springboard into the leadership role in the NT/SQL Server segment of the client/server accounting market," said Hanna. "Our timing is right in sync with growing demand from end-users moving to NT, the emerging de facto standard for enterprise client/server applications. In addition to all of the features of Windows95's innovative user interface and multi-tasking capabilities, Acuity users can take advantage of greater power, enhanced performance and the security of Microsoft(r) NT and SQL Server(tm)."

The Right Microsoft SQL Server Technology

Acuity offers a component object architecture that facilitates complete integration with industry standard third-party workflow, imaging and office productivity applications, including Microsoft Office(r) and BackOffice(r). It also enables users to select from a wide variety of reporting and analysis tools. Benefits include improved access to data, easy integration of applications, facilitation of business process re-engineering, scalability and easy customizability.

"Acuity Financials is a great implementation of Microsoft technology," said Bob Muglia, vice president, Developer tools, Microsoft. "It's use of Visual Basic and the component object model is an example of the business solutions developers can create using our software."

First Users Praise Acuity

Initial reports from early Acuity end users are favorable. Eager customers desired the opportunity to implement this pure-play Microsoft-based accounting package to streamline business processes for competitive advantage.

"We needed an accounting package able to integrate with our agency's office automation software and provide additional features for the accounting group. Acuity allowed us to do that easily and seamlessly," said Greg Louis, vice president, information systems and technology, for Weyerhauser Insurance Services, in Sherman Oaks, Calif. "During our system upgrade to Microsoft SQL Server, we discovered other SQL packages were weak on the accounting side."

Don Dale, CFO of Practice Performance in Dallas, Texas confirmed, "Buying Acuity was a quick decision process for our company. Acuity is Windows-based, easy to use, easy to train, and logical. Acuity presented unlimited options. We also liked the great flexibility, the Microsoft SQL Server database, and the seamless integration with other office application software."

Acuity Financials comes from the company that recently took the mid-range accounting software Windows market by storm this past June by outselling competitors six-fold with its MAS 90(r) For Windows(r). Within 2 1/2 weeks of the launch, 2,800 State Of The Art resellers were authorized to sell the product and 1,500 end-user upgrades were shipped, giving State Of The Art an enviable leadership position over its competitors. To date, 4,300 resellers have been authorized and some 4,500 upgrades and new end-user licenses have been shipped.

Pricing and Availability

Acuity Financials(tm) is available through SOTA's nationwide network of Acuity Solution Providers(tm) and Acuity Solution Developers. A ten-user system for core accounting starts at $42,500. For the name of the closest regional reseller, call [phone].

Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Irvine, Calif., State Of The Art, Inc. develops, markets and supports accounting software for middle-market companies. Its award-winning MAS 90(r) accounting software runs under a number of operating systems and offers a broad range of applications for virtually any type of business. It also sells DOS- and Windows-based BusinessWorks(tm) accounting software for small to medium businesses. State Of The Art stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol of SOTA. State Of The Art can be reached at [phone] or on the World Wide Web at http://www.sota.com. -0-

NOTE: Acuity Financials, MAS 90, BusinessWorks and State Of The Art are either trademarks or registered trademarks of State Of The Art, Inc.

CONTACT: Holly Barnett

State Of The Art

800-854-3415 X 3803

[e-mail]

or

Linda Waters or Stephanie Silverman

Shafer Public Relations 

[phone] (Calif.)

[e-mail] or [e-mail]