Shapeware Announces Visio Developers Program

Meeting the Specialized Needs of Developers Creating Graphic Solutions With
Visio

ATLANTA--May 23,1994--Shapeware Corporation today announced its Visio
Developers Program, providing software and special technical support
designed to meet the needs of corporate developers and third-party
solution providers who want to create graphic solutions with Visio, the
company's award-winning drag and drop drawing application for business
professionals.

The Visio Developers Program offers a variety of software and support
options that are available in Shapeware's Visio Developer Kit (VDK). The
kit, scheduled to be available in June 1994, includes the U.S. and
International English versions of Visio 2.0, two versions of Visio Express
that function as Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) objects within
Microsoft Office and Lotus SmartSuite, all 15 Visio Shapes products, two
technical books--"Developing Shapes" and "Programming Visio"--and several
sample add-on programs with source code. The VDK also includes six months
of specialized technical support that provides developers with a special
access phone number and dedicated technical resources. Additional programs
such as developer conferences and a Visio solution provider referencing
service (to bring together developers with potential customers) will be
implemented as the program grows.

"Visio provides a unique opportunity for independent developers who want to
create graphic solutions for vertical markets; it also allows corporate
developers to create custom solutions that fit the needs of their
organizations," said Phil Johanson, third-party marketing manager at
Shapeware. "We are committed to offering programs and policies that make
it easy for developers to use Visio technology to solve customers'
problems."

"Visio drawings have just the kind of 'intelligence' we need," said Cameron
Laird, senior technical engineer at Litwin Process Automation. "And it's
easy to access the drawings programmatically through Visual Basic. Visio
is a well-behaved Windows-based program that our customers learn quickly,
and its price is right for us. I simply haven't hit any walls using
Visio."

Visio version 2.0 is designed with a unique graphical engine that provides
developers with a diverse range of development capabilities. The Visio
platform enables developers to create simple or complex graphical
solutions, based on their needs, such as the following:

* Developing Visio SmartShapes with specific behavior
* Providing company-specific solutions by creating custom
  sets of Visio SmartShapes
* Using the OLE Automation standard scripting interface and
  Visual Basic 3.0 to extend Visio's functionality, automate
  routine tasks, and communicate with other applications that
  support OLE Automation
* Integrating Visio's graphical engine into an overall system
  solution using OLE 2.0 and OLE Automation

Pricing and Availability

The VDK will be available in June 1994 through domestic Shapeware
Authorized Corporate Resellers. It can also be purchased directly from
Shapeware for $495. To obtain more information on the Visio Developers
Program, or to purchase the VDK, customers can contact Shapeware at (800)
446-3335.

About Shapeware

Shapeware was founded in October 1990 to develop and market business
graphics software for mainstream computer users. The Seattle-based company
pioneered the business drawing and diagramming market with the release of
Visio 1.0 in November 1992. Since then, Shapeware has released additional
drag and drop drawing products including Visio Express, Visio 2.0, the
International English version of Visio 2.0, French Visio 2.0, German Visio
2.0, Visio Home, and 15 after-market Visio Shapes products. The company' s
co-founders include Jeremy Jaech and Dave Walter, two of the founders of
Aldus Corporation, and Ted Johnson, the lead developer of Aldus PageMaker
for Windows.

Shapeware Corp
520 Pike St, Suite 1800
Seattle, WA 98101-4001
206 521-4500,  fax: 206 521-4501

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