DATACAD LLC Joins OpenDWG Alliance as Founding Member

Freedom of software choice and drawing compatibility among the many benefits for DataCAD users and AEC professionals

Avon, CT 06001 - February 11, 1998 -- DATACAD LLC today announced its participation in the founding of the OpenDWG(tm) Alliance, a newly formed, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Autodesk's DWG drawing file format as an open industry standard for the exchange of computer aided design (CAD) drawings. As a founding member of the OpenDWG Alliance, DATACAD LLC will work with other CAD vendors to jointly share and disseminate knowledge about the DWG file format, a move that will ultimately deliver better data compatibility to DataCAD's 200,000+ users worldwide. As part of its membership, DATACAD LLC will have access to and will participate in the continued development of the OpenDWG Toolkit. This Tookit was formerly sold by Marcomp, Inc. as the AUTODIRECT product, and its DWG libraries are considered to be the most thorough and accurate third-party reconstruction of the file format available. Visio Corporation recently purchased MarComp and is making the publicly available to the CAD community through the OpenDWG Alliance.

DataCAD is one of the most popular CAD programs developed for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries. According to The American Institute of Architects' (AIA) 1997 Firm Survey Report, DataCAD is second only to AutoCAD as the most widely used CAD software among AIA member firms. The recently published report states that AutoCAD is used by 61% of all AIA firms, followed by DataCAD, used by 12% of all firms. DataCAD's penetration has increased from 8% in 1990 to 12% in 1996. ArchiCAD and Microstation are the next most popular, each used by 5% of all firms.

"Autodesk's control of the proprietary DWG standard has prevented many AEC firms from using software specifically designed for architecture, such as DataCAD," said Mark Madura, President and CEO of DATACAD LLC. "Many projects, especially those let by government agencies, require that architects and sub-contractors deliver the design and construction data in AutoCAD DWG format. Many firms have paid an additional $3,000+ for AutoCAD in order to 'guarantee' 100% AutoCAD file compatibility. Making DWG an open standard will give professionals the freedom to choose the most appropriate CAD software for their practice and to maximize productivity."

More information on the OpenDWG Alliance is available on its web site, www.opendwg.org. The mailing address of the OpenDWG Alliance is OpenDWG Alliance, 1420 Fifth Avenue, 22nd Floor, Seattle, WA 98101; telephone (206) 224-5655, fax (206) 224-2880.

About DATACAD LLC
DATACAD LLC is an independent, privately-held company that provides robust computer-aided design and drafting solutions to architecture, building, engineering, and construction firms. With over 200,000 installations worldwide, DATACAD LLC's award-winning DataCAD architectural design products are some of the most popular, cost-effective CADD products available.