SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Feb 17, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via Comtex/ -- Today's introduction of AutoCAD 2005 software and the AutoCAD 2005 family of products, by Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, delivers improved design creation, management and collaboration solutions for its customers in the building, infrastructure (GIS and civil engineering) and manufacturing industries. The core of this release is AutoCAD 2005, a product optimized to save time and money by improving efficiencies in the digital workflow process for drafting and design professionals. AutoCAD 2005 provides enhanced capabilities that allow users to better manage and publish sheet sets and communicate project information for mark-up and review. These new features enable customers worldwide to improve their on-time, on-budget project delivery.

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"AutoCAD 2005 demonstrates Autodesk's increased commitment to its customers' growing business needs, and what the industry requires for integrated workflow and collaboration," said Gisela Wilson, Director of Product Lifecycle Management at IDC.

Lifecycle Management (the effective management and tracking of complex project data throughout the entire length of a project) is a critical success factor for Autodesk customers working in the building, infrastructure and manufacturing industries. The portfolio of products built from the new features in AutoCAD 2005 delivers the functionality needed for efficient workflow processes. Users now have the ability to create and manage coordinated sets of drawings and project teams can review and mark-up the sets of drawings for more effective communication.

AutoCAD 2005 Tailored for Industry Sectors

Setting the new standard in CAD productivity, AutoCAD 2005 is optimized to meet specific industry needs so all customers can reduce costs and improve efficiencies throughout their project lifecycles. Productivity has always been a cornerstone in the profitability and viability of any industry that creates, manages, and shares complex data and design information. Whether creating sophisticated 2D and 3D design and drafting, complex data driven analysis and mapping, or object-based modeling; Autodesk industry solutions help increase productivity, improve team collaboration and reduce cycle times.

"The fact that all the infrastructure products are seamlessly integrated to share data back and forth will be a great improvement on our system," said Ed Williams, senior analyst, Southern Company. "We will now have the capability to share data more efficiently than we have in the past."

One Consistent Set of Drawings

This release has evolved AutoCAD software from single-page drawing to the creation and management of entire sets of related drawings, directly inside the application. There can be hundreds of pages within a complete set of drawings (or sheets) that is ultimately delivered to a customer. But it is the complete "sheet set" that encompasses all the information including annotations and other critical design data used to complete the project. Customers use information contained in the sheet set to communicate effectively and ensure the consistency and the highest quality over the project lifecycle.

Today, most organizations manage sheet sets using a file and folder structure on local disk drives and network servers. This manual method is labor intensive and susceptible to error. The new "Sheet Set Manager" feature provides an easy way to collate drawing sheets into logical sets and subsets that users can define by company, project or other industry standards. The user can quickly assemble sheet sets using existing drawings, propagate sheet standards over multiple projects, and provide simultaneous access to sheet sets within their local area network. Sheets can be easily added or removed from a full set or any subset by using the Sheet Set Manager tool palette or the context-sensitive menu.

"The newest version of AutoCAD solves some of the key workflow issues that I have been trying to resolve," said Darren Myles, CAD/IT Manager at LHT Limited, a leading New Zealand-based engineering and design firm. "The new sheet set manager, fields and tables will improve the consistency and accuracy of our drawings."

Integrated Collaboration Platform for Effective Communication

Another critical element to design lifecycle management is the ability to review drawings and communicate across entire project teams. The design review process has always been time-consuming and expensive because of multiple rounds of printing, mark-ups, and delivery. Autodesk Design Web Format(TM) (DWF(TM)) for publishing is integrated into AutoCAD 2005 for an easy and cost-effective way to distribute and communicate digital design data throughout all project lifecycles. Saving sheet sets in DWF enables designers, engineers, and their colleagues to quickly and easily communicate design information electronically to anyone needing to view, mark-up, review, or print the design information. Customers can review and mark-up the drawings with Autodesk DWF Composer a new advanced collaboration tool that integrates the comments back into AutoCAD 2005 to complete the design review process. Customers can also use Autodesk DWF Viewer, a free, lightweight application that allows anyone on the project team to easily view and print DWF drawings.

"We expect AutoCAD 2005 to set a new industry standard because of the productivity and efficiency gains our customers can experience," said John Sanders, vice president of Autodesk's Platform Technology Division. "This release will prove to be critical in helping our customers across all industries achieve their business objectives."

Autodesk AutoCAD 2005 Family of Products

The AutoCAD(R) software product family includes 11 enhanced design application releases optimized for the building, infrastructure, and manufacturing markets. The following applications will be available with the AutoCAD(R) 2005 release: AutoCAD LT(R) 2005, Autodesk(R) Architectural Desktop 2005, Autodesk(R) Building Systems 2005, Autodesk Map(TM) 3D, Autodesk(R) Land Desktop 2005, Autodesk(R) Civil Design 2005, Autodesk(R) Survey 2005, and Autodesk(R) Raster Design 2005. AutoCAD 2005 will also serve as the foundation for future versions of AutoCAD(R) Mechanical, and AutoCAD(R) Electrical and Autodesk(R) MapGuide software applications. In addition, Autodesk(R) Revit(R) 6 software, the latest release of Autodesk's purpose-built building information modeling platform, is compatible with the new AutoCAD 2005 family of products.

Purchasing and Consulting Information

Many of the new products from the Autodesk software family will be available next month through Autodesk Authorized Resellers (www.autodesk.com/reseller). The easiest way to keep Autodesk design tools up-to-date is through the Autodesk(R) Subscription Program including Support Services. For an annual fee, the program provides the latest versions of licensed Autodesk software, offering a budget-conscious way to stay current with the latest technology. Customers can also access Autodesk Consulting and Training services to maximize the value of their investment in Autodesk technology. For more information about the Autodesk Subscription Program, visit www.autodesk.com/subscription. For more information on the AutoCAD, please visit www.autodesk.com/preview2005.

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company, offering customers progressive business solutions through powerful technology products and services. Autodesk helps customers in the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital media, and wireless data services fields increase the value of their digital design data and improve efficiencies across their entire project lifecycle management processes. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

NOTE: Autodesk, AutoCAD, Design Web Format, and DWF are either registered trademarks of trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

In the text of this press announcement, we may make forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of the Company. These forward looking statements are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which are discussed in documents we file from time to time with the SEC and specifically in our Annual Report and 10-K filed for the year ended January 31, 2003, and our 10-Q for the quarter ended July 31, 2003. These documents contain and identify important factors that may cause the actual results to differ from those contained in our forward looking statements.

Additionally, we may make statements regarding planned or future development efforts for our existing or new products and services. These statements are not intended to be a promise or guarantee of future delivery of products, services or features but merely reflect our current plans, which may change.

The Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist or change after the date on which they were made.

CONTACT: Gabrielle Friedly of Autodesk, Inc., +1-507-5000, or gabrielle.friedly@autodesk.com.

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.