Micro Focus Launches Object COBOL Class Library Partners Program

Reusable Class Libraries Enhance Object COBOL Application Development

Palo Alto, Calif. - May 22, 1995 - Last week at its seventh annual User
Conference, Micro Focus announced the Micro Focus Object COBOL Class
Library Partners Program. The program is designed to make object
technology easier for business programmers to implement by making vertical
market class libraries available as off-the-shelf application components.
The Class Library program will make these components available to the
millions of COBOL programmers who will require class libraries for their
migration to Object COBOL.

"Micro Focus was the first company to market with an object-oriented COBOL
product and is now the first company to sponsor a Class Library program
for object-oriented COBOL," stated Paul Adams, president of business
development for Micro Focus. "The Class Library program will revolutionize
the way business applications are developed by reducing the coding time
for developers, allowing them to bring applications to market faster than
is possible starting from scratch."

Class libraries provide users with a prepackaged set of functionality for
application development and are an important aspect in encapsulating
business knowledge for reuse. The reusability of Class Libraries increases
productivity and is ideally suited for use by developers across a wide
range of industries, from manufacturing to insurance and finance to
communication. Programmers will benefit from working with thoroughly
tested Class Libraries as they provide consistent quality in standard
objects for use in vertical applications.

Adams continued, "The program will provide Class Library builders with a
high level of support to aid them in bringing their Class Libraries to
market. Most significantly, this includes the backing of a company well
established in the development of COBOL and object-oriented COBOL
application development."

Companion Systems, specializing in bringing advanced technologies to
business organizations through its application development and consulting
services, is the premier charter partner of the Micro Focus Class Library
program. Initially, Companion Systems plans to develop a set of
calculation class libraries for the insurance industry that fit in the
distributed object model. Companies will be able to incorporate these
libraries into their current systems or to develop new applications based
on these libraries as they move toward more object-oriented
architectures.

"Companion Systems specializes in systems development for industries such
as insurance and finance that typically and justifiably utilize COBOL as
their business rules language," said John Cona, senior design engineer for
Companion Systems. "The Class Library program will allow programmers to
utilize their COBOL expertise and gain the benefits of off-the-shelf
components which have been standardized and tested for specific
industries."

The Class Libraries will be compatible with Micro Focus Object COBOL for
Windows NT and OS/2, the first true 32-bit COBOL compiler to support both
COBOL and object-oriented COBOL programming. Object COBOL is a robust
32-bit product for migrating existing and developing new COBOL
applications that take full advantage of the power of today's
high-performance PCs and operating systems, and the latest programming
methodologies. It provides the high performance and capacity required to
deliver mission critical object-oriented commercial applications.

Class Library Availability

Class Libraries developed by third-party Class Library Partner Program
participants will be distributed by those companies.

Partnership Program Participation

For more information about participating in the Micro Focus Object COBOL
Class Library Partners Program, contact Dan Gilliland, Class Library
Partners Program Manager at (415) 843-7362 or via the Internet at
dpg@mfltd.uk.co.

Micro Focus provides state-of-the-art programming tools and technology that
empower application developers while leveraging available resources. Micro
Focus is a leading provider of tools for rightsizing, cross-platform
development and deployment, client/server computing and off-loading
mainframe development and maintenance of mission-critical applications.
Micro Focus is located at 2465 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, Calif.
94303. Telephone: 415-856-4161.

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