SAN RAFAEL, Calif., June 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk Inc. (Nasdaq: ADSK), the world's leading design software and digital content company, today announced that longtime development partner COADE, Inc., has standardized on Autodesk's DWF(TM) (Design Web Format(TM)) file format for its CADWorx Internet Publisher (CADWorx IP), the newest addition to its CADWorx 2005 suite of AutoCAD(R)-based plant design products. By using DWF technology, CADWorx IP allows engineers to "publish" and distribute their intelligent designs to all associated parties, in order to promote the information exchange that is the basis of project collaboration and plant lifecycle management.

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The plant design process begins with the CADWorx P&ID application, which engineers use to create P&IDs -- typically linked to large amounts of data, in varying file formats and in different locations. These documents are the prime building blocks of the plant lifecycle management process -- from design, through maintenance and operation, and on to decommissioning. CADWorx IP allows these documents to be published and distributed via Autodesk DWF Viewer to all interested parties in a format that permits access to drawings as well as associated linked data and documentation -- via a simple browser. This allows project stakeholders -- such as subcontractors, vendors, plant operators, and regulators -- to review, comment on, and reference project design data, without needing an AutoCAD license or the CADWorx application -- or, in fact, without needing any traditional CAD skills.

"One of the major issues facing the users of plant design software is how to distribute design data across the chasm that separates those who own the application programs (and the application skills) and those who don't -- whether that chasm separates the core design team from the subcontractors and vendors, or whether it separates the engineering/design firm from the owner/operator who must take over the day-to-day plant operations," said Thomas Van Laan, president of COADE. "When we looked for a solution to this problem, we found what we needed in Autodesk's DWF file format. It offered a compact, precise, accessible, and secure method of distributing engineering design documents."

An Autodesk Developer Network member since 1986 -- and one of the first 40 developers to partner with Autodesk, Houston-based COADE provides mechanical engineering software to more than 10,000 customers in 65 countries worldwide. COADE products are in use at nearly every major oil company, nearly every major engineering company, and hundreds of smaller organizations.

"Our partnership with COADE has given both companies the opportunity to contribute to the fulfillment of a vital aspect of engineering -- namely, the speed and accuracy of design and review," said Tony Peach, director, DWF Strategy at Autodesk. "By leveraging the superior functionality of DWF, COADE is helping its customers streamline their distribution and review processes and ultimately increase productivity."

Simple, Secure File Sharing

DWF technology provides a foundation for design communication that accelerates collaboration and helps increase overall productivity throughout a project lifecycle. A compact format capable of holding large amounts of compressed data, DWF features an open architecture so that it can be published by many different design applications. DWF also affords control, allowing engineers and designers to specify the design components users may see, and to secure the integrity of original data. DWF reduces the expense of workflow and construction errors due to lengthy review cycles, and ultimately, helps eliminate costs associated with production and use of paper-based plans.

This breakthrough in distributive design leans heavily on Autodesk's DWF (Design Web Format) technology, an open, secure file format that allows for the efficient distribution of information rich design data. Publishing to Autodesk's DWF format is made much simpler as the underlying technologies that are used by CADWorx P&ID (Piping and Instrument Diagrams (P&IDs) are based on widely accepted industry tools and file formats from companies such as Autodesk, Microsoft, and Oracle.

Autodesk Consulting, including integrated consulting and training, helps customers worldwide maximize the value of their investment in Autodesk technology. For more information about Autodesk Consulting, see www.autodesk.com/consulting.

Autodesk Subscription is the easiest way to keep design tools and learning up to date. For an annual fee, customers benefit from the latest versions of their licensed Autodesk software, web support direct from Autodesk, self-paced training options, and a broad range of other technology and business benefits. For more information, contact your Autodesk Authorized Reseller or visit www.autodesk.com/subscription.

About COADE

COADE, Inc., is one of the world's leading providers of engineering and design software for cross-discipline information sharing and interoperability. Company products include CADWorx, an integrated CAD suite for process plant design; CAESAR II, the world's most popular pipe stress analysis software; PVElite and CodeCalc, pressure vessel and component design and analysis software programs; and TANK, comprehensive engineering software for designing and analyzing oil storage tanks according to the latest API codes.

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

    CONTACT:
     Colleen Nichols
     415-356-0722
     colleen.nichols@autodesk.com

SOURCE  Autodesk Inc.
    -0-                             06/07/2004
    /CONTACT:  Colleen Nichols of Autodesk Inc., +1-415-356-0722, or
colleen.nichols@autodesk.com/
    /Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031016/SFTH007LOGO
              AP Archive:  http://photoarchive.ap.org
              PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com/
    /Web site:  http://www.autodesk.com /
    (ADSK)

CO:  Autodesk Inc.; COADE, Inc.
ST:  California, Texas
IN:  CPR STW MLM ITE
SU:  PDT LIC

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