Viasoft Announces New Product to Accelerate, Automate Year 2000 Computer Code Conversions.

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 29, 1997--Viasoft Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:VIAS) Monday introduced VIA/AutoChange, an automated code change product for companies that have completed the assessment and planning phases for the year 2000 date change project and are ready to move into actual software code conversion.

VIA/AutoChange is the newest component of Viasoft's industry-leading year 2000 toolset, ESW2000 , which integrates the technology of the Existing Systems Workbench with additional tools specifically designed to address the problems associated with century change efforts.

"The time is past for companies to be in the planning stages of the year 2000 conversion," said Ian S. Hayes, principal and founder of Clarity Consulting. "While most companies have begun correcting their software, few companies have attained the levels of production needed to reach compliance in time. If they decide to dedicate 1999 to testing, a company starting today with a 25 million line of code (LOC) portfolio needs to analyze, correct and unit test an average of 385,000 LOC per week."

According to Wayne Snell, solutions marketing manager at Viasoft: "Depending on the size of the portfolio and the amount of code to be changed, VIA/AutoChange lets 'do-it-yourselfers' convert large amounts of code quickly. And, it identifies errors, allowing them to be fixed in the conversion phase, rather than the more costly testing phase."

VIA/AutoChange is designed to provide organizations with the speed they want, plus the quality they demand. The software tool was created to make conversion teams more productive by enabling them to quickly and safely change large quantities of code for the year 2000. With its integration to Bridge 2000, Viasoft's century windowing tool, VIA/AutoChange supports multiple conversion strategies, including expanding date fields or century windowing techniques.

No matter which conversion strategy is chosen, VIA/AutoChange keeps manual code changes to a minimum. VIA/AutoChange also dynamically links to VIA/Insight, Viasoft's program understanding tool and VIA/SmartEdit, Viasoft's COBOL-intelligent editor, to deliver its automated code-change capabilities and to streamline the entire conversion process.

According to Stephanie Moore, senior analyst at Giga Information Group, more and more IT organizations are beginning to tackle the year 2000 conversion in-house, in response to resource shortages, time constraints and the cost of external outsourcing. "There are efficiencies to be gained in dealing with vendors who understand year 2000 applications and who can provide the support and training necessary to achieve the rates of code change required to meet the year 2000 deadline," Moore said.

VIA/AutoChange Key Benefits

VIA/AutoChange helps organizations focus on a number of the major problems they face during their year 2000 conversions, and provides the following benefits:

-- Increases productivity and speed of conversion staff -- VIA/AutoChange allows programmers to change significant amounts of COBOL source code quickly.

-- Manages the code change process -- VIA/AutoChange guides conversion teams through each step of the process automatically.

-- Reduces risk associated with conversion -- By providing direction throughout the code change process, VIA/AutoChange generates project results that are uniform and predictable. Organizations using VIA/AutoChange remain in control of the code change process at all times. Sensitive code stays onsite. Programmers know what changes were made and how they were made, and this knowledge assists them in the testing process.

-- Helps improve quality -- Through a consistent, repeatable conversion process, VIA/AutoChange confirms that all conversion teams are following organizational standards and updating the code in a uniform manner.

Pricing and Availability

VIA/AutoChange is available for existing VIA/SmartEdit and VIA/Insight customers at prices beginning at $44,000, depending on configurations. New users may purchase the VIA/AutoChange package, which includes VIA/Insight and VIA/SmartEdit, at prices beginning at $105,000.

VIA/AutoChange supports MVS, CICS, DL/1, IDMS and SQL programs written in COBOL. It operates in the IBM MVS/XA, MVS/ESA or OS/390 environments.

About Viasoft

Viasoft is a leading provider of business solutions, consisting of integrated technology and specialized professional consulting services, designed to enable customers worldwide to cost-effectively manage and evolve their information technology assets. With headquarters in Phoenix, Viasoft provides sales and services through regional offices in the United States, Europe, the Asia/Pacific region, and a growing network of international subsidiaries and distributors.

For more information on Viasoft's products and services, visit the company's World Wide Web site at www.viasoft.com . -0-

The statements made in this news release that are not historical facts contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the impact of competitive products and services, risks associated with results and timing of technology development and commercialization, the company's ability to manage growth and acquisitions of technology or businesses, the effect of economic and business conditions, including risks inherent in international operations and the ability to attract and retain technical personnel, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's Securiites and Exchange Commission filings.

CONTACT: Viasoft Inc., Phoenix

Judy L. Redman, 602/667-2849

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