VISUAL BALER 1.0 SHIPS

Create and distribute bulletproof, royalty-free spreadsheet applications
for Windows

At a Glance

Chicago, IL (June 20, 1994) -- Baler Software Corporation is now shipping
Visual Baler 1.0, the first spreadsheet-based visual development tool. As
the spreadsheet user's solution for creating stand-alone Windows
applications, Visual Baler works like traditional spreadsheets, with an
important difference. Visual Baler outputs self-running Windows programs,
not just spreadsheet templates. These "Baled" programs may be distributed
without requiring additional spreadsheet copies or royalties. Designed
from the ground up as a Windows development tool, Visual Baler has many
additional unique, timesaving development features. Imports formulas,
formatting and data from all releases of Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft Excel and
Quattro Pro for a head start. Visual Baler sells for $499, including a
royalty-free distribution license.

Positioning and intended user

Visual Baler combines the flexible point-and-click user interface design
tools and convenient run-time policies of products such as Microsoft
Visual Basic with the intuitive, powerful, yet familiar spreadsheet
environment for creating applications. Designed as a complete solution for
the 15 million experienced spreadsheet users, Visual Baler's
spreadsheet-centricity makes it the fastest way to create many
analytical/number-crunching graphical applications. These applications may
be for internal use or for commercial resale.

Typical uses

Popular uses include business applications in accounting and tax planning,
job estimating, financial modelling, engineering analysis, electronic
forms, budgeting, price lists, employee reports, data collection and
hundreds of other uses. Spreadsheet users prefer Visual Baler because of
the ease and speed of creation compared with alternative tools. Also,
existing spreadsheet files can be used as a starting point, saving time
and effort.

3 headline features 

* The only 3-D graphical spreadsheet and Windows .EXE development
  tool combined into one product.
* Prevent unwanted changes to formulas, data and layout with a
  push of the Bind button. Applies a set of 14 bulletproof
  security settings.
* Automatically generates a Windows .EXE spreadsheet application
  complete with custom title screen and program icon.

Closest competitors

Unlike other visual development tools like Microsoft Visual Basic,
Microsoft Visual C++ or CA-Realizer, Visual Baler requires no knowledge of
programming languages like C or BASIC. Construct applications using
@functions, macro commands and other familiar spreadsheet-like components.
Furthermore, Visual Baler imports existing worksheets created with
programs like Lotus 1-2-3 or Microsoft Excel to cut development time
significantly.

Unlike traditional spreadsheet software, Visual Baler outputs professional,
stand-alone, secure Windows applications, not templates. Users may
conveniently distribute these custom programs with no additional software
or royalties required. In addition, Visual Baler offers important
developer-oriented tools like automatic help file creation not found in
traditional spreadsheets.

Customer Quotes

** "Baler reduced our development time by 90%, allowed us to get product to
market faster than our competitors, and become the number one producer of
valuation software in the country. Without Baler, we wouldn't be here."
David Fein, John Wiley & Sons

** "Visual Baler has a tremendous potential to become the No. I tool among
spreadsheet users. You have a great product." Ovi N. Florea, Independent
Consultant

** "As a sales manager with spreadsheet experience, Visual Baler is the
first tool I can use to create the Windows-based sales tools my field reps
need." Roy Hubbard, York International.

** "We know how to solve our business problems with spreadsheet
applications. Now Visual Baler makes it economically feasible to
distribute them to other departments." Tom Carlton, CF Industries.

Product history

Baler Software pioneered the idea of spreadsheet-based development tools
five years ago with a highly-regarded line of DOS-based spreadsheet
compilers. Visual Baler builds on this heritage by adding visual dialog
and tool bar editing tools, a 3-D graphical spreadsheet editor, Wysiwyg
on-screen and in printing, and more. These are the most-requested
capabilities by members of the Visual Baler customer advisory board.

HIGHLIGHTS

Complete Solution

All tools necessary to create professional Windows applications from start
to finish are in the box. These include the project manager, 3-D graphical
spreadsheet editor, debugger, tool bar editor, dialog box editor, help
editor and Microsoft help compiler, and the BALE automatic runtime
builder. Extensive on-line documentation puts answers a few mouse clicks
away.

Pre-built routines

Save development time since Visual Baler provides an application framework.
No need to write routines for file open and save, printing publishing
quality output, calculation, tool and status bars, context-sensitive help,
or to code a data structure or even a menu system. Modify or replace any
object.

Easy to understand metaphor

Visual Baler consists of tabbed, 3-D spreadsheet pages. When an application
is complete, a single mouse click "binds" the application into a secure
distributable application that, like a perfect bound book, can't be "taken
apart."

Point and click visual design

Visual Baler provides graphical design tools to combine buttons and other
Windows controls to create clean, useable input screens with an
attractive, etched appearance. The dialog box editor provides point and
click design for rapid interface creation, including check boxes, radio
buttons, group boxes, bitmaps and other useful controls. The right mouse
button activates a compound dialog box attribute menu for modifying the
currently selected object. This makes it easy to assign attributes to
items.

Create lean Windows applications

Entire Visual Baler applications often fit on a single high-density
diskette with compression, making it easier and less costly to distribute
applications internally or for sale. Minimize use of memory and Windows
resources with Visual Baler's proprietary virtual control technology.

Share data

Read and write formulas, data and formatting from all releases of Lotus
1-2-3, Microsoft Excel and Quattro Pro using the .WK3/.FM3 or .WK1/.FMT
file formats. All popular spreadsheets write these formats. Visual Baler
also supports the Windows clipboard and ASCII tab and comma-delimited
formats for sharing data with other programs.

Built-in 3-D spreadsheet editor

Visual Baler is not meant to replace a user's day-to-day spreadsheet
program, but for a development tool the editor is surprisingly
spreadsheet-like. Create and edit 3-D formulas, add Wysiwyg formatting
including lines and fonts, use split panes, locked titles and in-cell
editing. Visual Baler includes 110 @functions and the Baler Extended Macro
Language for advanced customization.

Write and compile Microsoft help Files

Easily create real Windows help files with context-sensitive links to
cells, buttons, and dialog controls. Input and compile help text with the
included Microsoft help compiler.

BALER SOFTWARE CORPORATION

Other products

Baler Software, located in Chicago, is the leading publisher of
spreadsheet-based application development tools. Other Baler products
include the Baler spreadsheet compilers, which convert worksheets into
secure, stand-alone DOS applications. These include Baler 6.0 at $499 and
BalerXE 2.0 (eXtended Edition) at $799. BalerXE is available in English,
Kanji and German language editions.

Domestic and International Distribution

All products are available from leading software resellers, U.S.
distributor Merisel, and from Baler Software Corporation. Baler products
are available from local dealers/distributors in Canada, the United
Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Netherlands,
Japan, Australia and New Zealand, Japan and South Africa. Contact Baler
Software at 708-5069700 (main), or 800-327-6108 (sales), 708-506-1808
(fax) or 708-506-9710 (24-hour FaxFacts).

Baler Software Corp
1400 Hicks Rd
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
708-506-9700,  fax 708-506-1808

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