Sterling Software Releases VISION:Webaccess 1.5, Making It Easy for Business Users to Access Information From Standard Browser

Business Wire, July 29, 1998

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 29, 1998--

Wizard-Driven Point-and-Click Query Support Extends Web Browser Data Access to IBM DB2 and Microsoft SQL Server

Sterling Software Inc.'s (NYSE:SSW) Information Management Division Wednesday announced the release of VISION:Webaccess 1.5, providing access to Microsoft SQL Server and IBM DB2 data, in addition to the previous Oracle connectivity, via a standard Web browser.

The new product, which extends the benefits of business intelligence to end users via Internet/intranet connections, will be on display in Sterling Software's booth, No. 1230, during DCI's Data Warehouse World, July 29-30, at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.

Using wizard technology, VISION:Webaccess allows users to point and click their way through queries, view and refresh previously created reports and charts, and create ad hoc reports and charts for quick analysis.

"Business users need to quickly and easily access information for daily decision-making," said Carole Morton, president of Sterling Software's Information Management Division. "VISION:Webaccess links users to critical corporate data from a variety of sources, so they can run queries and produce reports and two- and three-dimensional charts wherever they are and whenever they need it."

VISION:Webaccess Features

The new release of VISION:Webaccess supports connectivity to Microsoft SQL Server 6.0 and higher via ODBC, and IBM DB2 via IBM's client middleware. VISION:Webaccess 1.5 allows users to select Oracle, SQL Server or DB2 as the data source. Persistent database connection eliminates the need to constantly reconnect to databases, making access fast and reliable.

VISION:Webaccess requires no client installation, configuration or maintenance.

Written in 100 percent Pure Java, VISION:Webaccess is a Web- server-based product running on a Microsoft Windows NT Server. Database access parameters can be set by the IT department using Sterling Software's VISION:Clearmanage to ensure that users working with standard Web browsers get the information they need from their company's data store.

A single administrator, using VISION:Clearmanage, can configure and control an environment consisting of users of VISION:Webaccess and its companion product, VISION:Clearaccess, the powerful query and reporting tool for PC and Macintosh clients.

Wizard Technology for Reports and Charts

VISION:Webaccess features wizard technology, giving users greater flexibility in presenting and viewing reports and charts. This makes it possible for business users to create professional-looking reports from wherever they are located.

Point-and-click report and chart generation includes multiple reporting formats, parameterized reports, customizable templates, and two-dimensional and three-dimensional charts.

Users can interactively resize, rotate and modify the presentation of charts. They can also perform OLAP drill-down on both reports and charts, and view pregenerated reports and charts with the capability to refresh the screen images.

Extensive Online Help

There is online help via HTML for every screen in VISION:Webaccess; therefore, no printed documentation is required, saving business travelers the trouble of carrying a manual. Everything they need to know is on-screen.

Pricing and Availability

VISION:Webaccess is currently available. Introductory pricing, which includes VISION:Webaccess server, starts at $20,000.

Information Management Division

Sterling Software's Information Management Division, with headquarters in the Los Angeles area, provides solutions for global access to corporate data. IMD's products and services satisfy the data access, applications portfolio management and desktop integration needs of cross-industry users, regardless of business function.

Further information about IMD's product offerings can be found on the division's Web site at http://www.vision.sterling.com.

About Sterling Software

Sterling Software is a leading provider of software and services for the applications management, systems management and federal systems markets. Sterling Software, with its headquarters in Dallas, has a worldwide installed base of more than 20,000 customer sites and has more than 3,200 employees in 85 offices worldwide.

For more information on Sterling Software, visit the company's Web site at http://www.sterling.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: VISION:Clearaccess, VISION:Clearmanage and VISION:Webaccess are trademarks of Sterling Software Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective holders.

    CONTACT:  Sterling Software Inc., Woodland Hills, Calif.
               Kimberly French, 818/716-1616
               kimberly_french@woodland-hills.sterling.com