Strategic Alliance Increases Productivity and Improves Collaboration for

Building, Manufacturing, and Infrastructure Design Professionals

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced HP's support for the Autodesk(R) Design Web Format(TM) (DWF(TM)), the optimum file format for the distribution, communication and printing of engineering and design documents. The two companies will combine HP's leadership in large-format printers with Autodesk's expertise in design and engineering software to offer a highly efficient method of exchanging and printing design documents throughout the engineering project lifecycle. Together, HP and Autodesk will leverage their knowledge to address the requirements of building, manufacturing and infrastructure design professionals who need to continually improve productivity and simplify the process of printing engineering documents.

"As a leader in developing design applications for architects, engineers and other design professionals, Autodesk is qualified to understand the specific demands for sharing rich design data," Guayente San Martin, product marketing manager, Inkjet Commercial Division, HP. "Autodesk shares our commitment to advance collaboration and print accuracy within engineering processes, and DWF offers an ideal method for everyone involved in the workflow to exchange, view and print design documents with the highest fidelity."

This announcement builds on the long-term collaboration between Autodesk and HP. The two companies have worked closely to offer a complete range of Autodesk software solutions optimized to run on HP's graphic, workstation, mobile, and printing systems. Autodesk software is tested for quality assurance on HP workstations prior to each release and HP performs thousands of tests to certify Autodesk software on HP hardware.

"Through our work with HP, we look forward to expanding the market for DWF by offering a file format that is already specifically created to manage the complexities of design data in drawings, maps and models," said Tony Peach, director of DWF strategy for Autodesk. "Unlike file formats that weren't created for design data, DWF maintains the full integrity of the design throughout the engineering workflow. As a result, DWF files outputted to HP large-format printers are more accurate and represent exactly what the designer intended."

Benefits of Autodesk DWF Drive Increased Momentum

DWF is rapidly becoming the preferred file format for design professionals when sharing complex engineering design data. Smaller and faster to transmit than native or alternative design file formats, DWF places less demand on system resources. DWF files also maintain intelligent design data, ensuring the user sees the design exactly as it was intended and protecting the integrity of the original design. Easy to create, DWF files enable 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. DWF publishing is integrated into Autodesk products, or is available with the Autodesk(R) DWF(TM) Writer, a free application that enables designers to create DWF files from any CAD or Microsoft Windows application. DWF is also easy to view and share with project team members. Over 2,000,000 customers that have already downloaded Autodesk(R) DWF(TM) Viewer, a free lightweight application that enables anyone on the project team to easily view and print DWF drawings. Autodesk also recently announced Autodesk(R) DWF(TM) Composer, an advanced new viewing application that reduces costs, errors and time by establishing a completely digital process for collaborating on design projects with AutoCAD(R) designers.

HP provides a wide selection of large-format printing products and technology, including solutions specifically designed for demanding AEC and CAD applications. HP has long been a leader in large-format printing for graphics and technical professionals, such as architects, engineers and construction experts, delivering reliable, high quality output at top speeds for any work environment.

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 http://www.autodesk.com .

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

Contact: Brian Baker, 415-507-6411

Email: brian.baker@autodesk.com

SOURCE Autodesk, Inc. -0- 04/07/2004 /CONTACT: Brian Baker of Autodesk, +1-415-507-6411, or brian.baker@autodesk.com/ /Web site: http://www.autodesk.com / (ADSK) CO: Autodesk, Inc. ST: California IN: CPR STW MLM CST SU: MP-MW -- SFW003 -- 5346 04/07/2004 08:30 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com