Sterling Software adds free report distribution for Intranets and extends Dynamic OLAP of CLEAR product suite.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 10, 1997--

Sterling's Data Access Division announces Release 3.2 of

CLEAR:Access for Windows

The Data Access Division of Sterling Software (NYSE: SSW), one of the 15 largest software companies in the world, today announced the release of CLEAR:Access version 3.2 for Windows.

Part of the CLEAR managed data access suite, CLEAR:Access 3.2 further extends the solution's multidimensional data analysis capabilities with Dynamic On-Line Analytical Processing (DOLAP). Among other enhancements, a freely distributable Report View enables unlimited electronic distribution of CLEAR:Access reports.

CLEAR:Access enables business users to rapidly obtain, manipulate and view multidimensional data from more than 70 popular databases, ranging from production relational databases to data warehouses, and legacy systems. In release 3.2, CLEAR:Access extends its DOLAP technology to enable the end user to perform on-the-fly "data slicing," add dimensions, and create and share other types of custom functions for use in ad hoc analyses. This DOLAP capability provides business users with complete flexibility in developing ad hoc reports, a distinct advantage over static, pre-defined multidimensional data functions. Furthermore, these user-built custom functions are fully reusable, and thus can be passed on to other CLEAR:Access users throughout the organization.

"The Dynamic OLAP capabilities of CLEAR:Access allows users to keep the 'ad hoc' in ad hoc data analysis," said Agnes Lewis, president of Sterling's Data Access Division. "Business users define new data dimensions as they need them -- without intervention of the system administrator -- for drilling down into databases. Rather than waiting on technical personnel, business end users can get their answers via CLEAR:Access while their questions are still fresh and relevant to their analysis."

Utilizing the Report Viewer, CLEAR:Access reports and analyses can be distributed throughout the organization and beyond via e-mail and Intranets/Internet or e-mail, then easily viewed and printed by non-CLEAR:Access users. The CLEAR:Access Report Viewer can be distributed free of charge to any user -- thus it can be downloaded as needed from a Web server as a helper application to view Web-distributed reports.

"The richness and complexity of multidimensional charts, graphs and analyses produced by CLEAR:Access can exceed the display capabilities of the Internet's HTML," said Claudio Zancani, chief technology officer for Sterling's Data Access Division. "The Report Viewer ensures that electronic distribution does not compromise the power and visualization provided by charts and reports."

Sterling Software Data Access Division Background Information

Sterling Software's Data Access Division specializes in managed data access, providing business intelligence software for business end users and the ability for IT to monitor, manage and optimize that access. The CLEAR suite of products is installed at more than 3,000 customer locations and used by more than 40,000 business users worldwide.

Sterling Software is a leading worldwide provider of software products and services for applications management and systems management, as well as highly technical professional services for the federal government. The company is also an international distributor for certain Sterling Commerce, Inc. (SE-NYSE) products. Sterling Software, with its headquarters in Dallas, has a worldwide installed base of more than 20,000 customer sites and has 2,600 employees in 70 offices worldwide. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: CLEAR:Access and CLEAR:Manage are trademarks of Sterling Software, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only, and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

CONTACT: Sterling Software, Inc.

Data Access Division

Barbara Stocks, 404/231-8575, ext. 2923

[e-mail]

or

Crescent Communications

Lorretta Gasper, 770/698-8650, ext. 116

Fax: [phone]

[e-mail]