OBJECTIVE SOFTWARE SHIPS SPREADBASE 1.0 

First Category-Based Modeling Tool Now Available On The Macintosh

PALO ALTO, CA, DECEMBER 7,1992 -- Objective Software, Inc. today announced
that it has begun shipping SpreadBase software, the first category-based
modeling tool, to more than 175 customers. SpreadBase delivers new
capabilities to the desktop PC user, such as the ability to create and
maintain dynamic business models that respond instantly to change. Now
available on the Apple Macintosh, SpreadBase is priced at $695.

SpreadBase was developed to meet the needs of business analysts for tools
that can deal more effectively with fast-paced change in today's business
environment. Desktop business analysts -- CFOs, product managers, sales
managers, forecast analysts, manufacturing planners, customer service
supervisors, etc. -- are faced with a variety of ever-changing scenarios
requiring structural changes in business operations, including:

* the addition or deletion of products and product lines;
* re-segmenting a customer base;
* re-districting sales territories;
* opening up -- or closing down -- production facilities.

When using spreadsheets, business analysts are forced to manually relocate
and readjust text and numeric data and formulas as business information
changes. SpreadBase, the result of more than three years of research and
development, utilizes category-based modeling to permit changes to the
data -- or the way the data is viewed -- without any of the tedious
row-and-column hand editing and relinking associated with similar changes
within existing spreadsheets.

"SpreadBase redefines the way analysts deal with business modeling
problems," explains Richard Melmon, president and CEO of Objective
Software. "Our customers are grappling with constantly evolving business
environments. They need the freedom to think about how their business
operates, how they can remain competitive, and how they can get the most
power out of their business data. By utilizing the category-based modeling
of SpreadBase, they can rise above the details, get past the drudgery of
hand-editing and macro writing, and into decisions -- and actions - of
substance."

"Quite simply, SpreadBase will make your life easier," states Mike Kotwica,
manager of manufacturing systems for Motorola. "When we're dealing with
production planning of the many different product packages we offer, we
just cannot afford redundancy in our business modeling efforts if we are
to stay competitive. SpreadBase, which allows me to manipulate data
instantly and then present it to upper management, enables me to address a
variety of 'what if' situations much more efficiently. Rather than
spending hours on rote cell-and-number relocations, I can be providing
creative tools for my company to not just survive, but to succeed and
grow."

"SpreadBase goes far beyond the capabilities of today's extended
spreadsheets," agrees Mark Schindel, manager of customer service automated
budget systems for Southern California Edison, a purchaser of SpreadBase.
"We have a very large operation, a heavy volume of customers, and we need
to know that at every level we are executing business decisions as quickly
and intelligently as possible. With SpreadBase, we are able to do
budgeting, and then make rapid changes midstream.

Not only do we get many distinctly useful views of our data, we are able to
direct and use that data in entirely new ways."

Category-Based Modeling

In a category-based modeling tool, data and related information --
formulas,. formats, and rollups - are referenced logically by category
rather than physically by cell location. With SpreadBase, models are built
by entering data into the SpreadBase matrix view or importing records from
a database management system. As data items are entered, SpreadBase
automatically groups items with common characteristics into categories.
For example, it creates a category for "car" when you enter the car type
names Taurus, Cougar, and Corvette. Add Mustang, and SpreadBase correctly
considers it another member of the car category, and treats it
accordingly. Because SpreadBase allows models to be defined logically,
changes to data and formulas are applied to all category-based views and
summaries automatically.

Category-based modeling is possible because SpreadBase is built on top of
an internal relational database. Data entered into SpreadBase cells has a
one-to-one correspondence with an underlying data record. This
architecture, unique to SpreadBase, provides meaningful relationships
between items -- ensuring data consistency across multiple views, and
freeing the user from having to manually relocate data as items are
reorganized. Because this relationship is inherent to SpreadBase's
architecture, the program provides a powerful, extensible modeling tool
that can smoothly handle new information.

SpreadBase offers an integrated business modeling environment. Features
include a Workspace Module for creating and accessing dynamic business
models through matrix, tabular, and graph views; a Spreadsheet Module for
converting data and formulas from existing spreadsheet files; and a Report
Publishing Module which integrates SpreadBase views with text and graphic
elements to create dynamic multi-page reports. Over 150 math, financial,
statistical, date-time, and other functions are available to SpreadBase
users.

Configuration, Pricing, and Availability

SpreadBase requires a 32-bit architecture and supports Macintosh II series,
Macintosh Quadra series, SE/30, or Apple PowerBook 170 personal computers
(and above) running Apple system software 6.07 or later. A Motorola 68881
or 68882 math co-processor is required. SpreadBase for Macintosh has a
list price of $695. Volume discounts are available to large corporate
buyers.

SpreadBase for Windows is currently in development and will debut in 1993.


Objective Software

Objective Software was founded in 1989 by Richard Melmon, Stanley Roach,
Mike Korns, and Kyle Mashima. Together, they have built a team led by
industry veterans from Apple Computer, Claris, VisiCorp, Electronic Arts,
ASK/Ingres, and Procter & Gamble. The company has raised more than $10
million in venture capital from a blue chip list of investors, including:
J.H. Whitney & Co.; Oak Investment Partners; Weiss, Peck, & Greer Venture
Partners; CAPFORM; Draper Associates; Apex Investment Partners; and
Milbank-Wilson-Winthrop.

Based in Palo Alto, California, the company has sales offices in Nanuet,
New York; Cincinnati, Ohio; Newport Beach, California; and Palo Alto,
California.

ObjectiveSoftware, 248 Homer Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
415-324-3333;  fax: 415-324-3391

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