Autodesk Now Shipping Volo View 2 for Reviewing 2D and 3D Digital Design Quickly and Efficiently

Business Wire, August 22, 2001

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 22, 2001

Simple User Interface Enables the Extended Design Team to Review,

Mark Up, Measure, and Plot Files Created with AutoCAD,

AutoCAD-Based Software, and Autodesk Inventor 5

Autodesk, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADSK) today announced the worldwide availability of Autodesk Volo(TM) View 2, a web-enabled application for quickly, accurately, and cost-effectively reviewing 2D and 3D digital design. The software extends Autodesk's vision of expanding the design process to include non-technical users and those without access to design creation software. Autodesk today also announced the availability of Volo(TM) View Express 2, a free download, which enables users to display and print AutoCAD(R) files without the AutoCAD software.

With Volo View 2, users are able to review, mark up, measure, print, and plot engineering and design data in a simple and familiar Microsoft(R) Windows(R) environment. Volo View 2 supports DWG, DXF(TM), DWF, and raster file formats as well as, for the first time, the data formats produced by Autodesk Inventor(TM) 5 (IPT, IAM, IDW). Now any files created in AutoCAD, AutoCAD-based products, or Autodesk Inventor 5, can be reviewed, marked up, and printed independently of the software it was created in.

Volo View 2 also supports Autodesk(R) Architectural Desktop display configurations as well as AutoCAD object enablers for viewing custom objects created within products such as Autodesk Architectural Desktop. In addition, Volo View 2 allows users of Buzzsaw.com, a leading provider of online project collaboration and print management solutions for the building industry, to easily share and review design plans and drawings over the web. The result is significant time savings, more people contributing to the design process, and better quality control.

"For every digital designer, there are many more people who need to review the design information," said Kim Davis, director of marketing and product management at Autodesk. "However, very few of those people actually have a need for or access to the complete design creation software. Volo View 2 has all the necessary visualization, markup and hardcopy capabilities built-in. In addition, it delivers a familiar Windows environment making it exceptionally easy to use. This adds up to significant time and cost savings as well as extends the use of digital design data to the entire design team."

Features and Benefits

With this release, Volo View 2 delivers:

-- High-fidelity viewing of DWG, DXF, and DWF files created in AutoCAD and
AutoCAD platform-based products. In addition, users can also view files in
numerous raster formats.

-- Support for Autodesk Inventor 5 file formats including IPT, IAM, IDW.

-- Improved usability, user interface, and file navigation interface.

-- Easier-to-use tools for visualization, printing, plotting, and measuring.

-- XML-based Redline Markup Language (RML), enabling users to exchange markups
with AutoCAD 2002 platform-based products and Autodesk(R) OnSite software,
reducing dependence on costly large-format plots for design review.

-- Ability to run stand-alone or embedded in web pages or other application.

-- An application programming interface (API), allowing developers to integrate
design reviewing into other applications.

For more information on technical details and benefits of Volo View 2 and Volo View Express 2, visit www.autodesk.com/voloview.

Availability

Volo View 2 and Volo View Express 2 products are currently available worldwide in English. For more information, contact an Authorized Autodesk Reseller, Autodesk at 800/964-6432, or visit www.autodesk.com.

About Autodesk

Autodesk is the world's leading design software and digital content company. Founded in 1982, Autodesk provides design software, Internet portal services, wireless development platforms, and point-of-location applications that empower more than four million customers in over 150 countries to drive business and remain competitive. For more information, contact any Authorized Autodesk Reseller, call Autodesk at 800/964-6432, or visit www.autodesk.com. Discreet(TM) product information is available at 800/869-3504 or via the Web at www.discreet.com.

Note to Editors: Autodesk, AutoCAD, Autodesk Inventor, DXF and Volo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc./Discreet Logic Inc. in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.