SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2002--

New Intranet-based Conferencing Tools Significantly Improve

Real-Time Collaboration

Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, announced today the availability of Autodesk(R) Architectural Studio 3, a design communication and presentation tool for architects and other building industry professionals, beginning November 21, 2002. Architectural Studio 3 promotes a quick resolution of complex design issues by allowing project teams to host their own online conferencing sessions via their own intranet. Interoperability with other Autodesk tools is improved through the transition to a simplified, file-based environment. Customizable drawing tools and palettes are introduced plus more conceptual design options. This launch represents the third release of the product in less than a year.

"Autodesk Architectural Studio is allowing us to collaborate remotely with colleagues in ways that were never possible before," said Dr. Janine Clifford, AIA, President of Clifford Planning LLC and a Harvard Graduate School of Design professor, who has been using Architectural Studio to conduct Harvard's first distance learning urban design studio from Honolulu, Hawaii. "The immediacy of this interactive design environment offers tremendous value both for architectural students and for design professionals working with geographically dispersed project teams."

Enhanced Conferencing

To provide faster, more secure conferencing capabilities, this release of Autodesk Architectural Studio offers customers the option of hosting or participating in design collaboration meetings within their own intranet domain. This new conferencing capability significantly improves real-time design collaboration performance, facilitating interactive design reviews and presentations with remote colleagues. This enhanced conferencing functionality replaces the optional collaboration service formally known as Design Site.

Expanded Toolset and Improved Performance

A variety of new tools to directly manipulate and manage documents (images, DWF files, sketches and 3D models) are available, expanding the potential for design exploration. Tool palettes are now customizable, accommodating designers' individual work styles and simplifying the design and collaboration environment.

The performance of Autodesk Architectural Studio has been improved with this release in a number of ways. The application launches much more quickly when opening new workspace files, and display and rendering times for all types of drawing are improved, as well. Printing and plotting of workspaces and documents are faster. In addition, the transition to a file-based environment significantly improves performance within conferencing sessions.

"Architectural Studio is maturing into a powerful design communication tool that can be used effectively at any stage in the building lifecycle by all members of the design team," said Phil Bernstein, FAIA, vice president of Autodesk's Building Industry Division. "This third release makes online digital design collaboration with remote colleagues a viable alternative to in-person meetings."

Product Availability

Autodesk Architectural Studio 3 is available beginning November 21, 2002, in English in North America and will be available soon in many countries in Europe in International English. Current Architectural Studio subscribers will receive notification from Autodesk to download their copy of this software release from the Web. Localized versions in French, Italian, German, and Spanish are planned to be available within approximately 60 days following this initial release.

For more information on purchasing Autodesk Architectural Studio and the Autodesk Subscription Program, contact an Autodesk Authorized Reseller, call Autodesk at 800-964-6432, or visit www.autodesk.com.

About Autodesk

Founded in 1982, Autodesk, Inc., is the world's leading design and digital media creation, management, and distribution company. The company serves a diverse portfolio of markets, including building design, geographic information systems, manufacturing, digital media, and wireless data services. By delivering tools that foster innovation and creativity, Autodesk helps customers throughout the value chain use digital design data to work better, faster, and smarter. For more information about the company, see www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

(c)Copyright 2002 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

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