L'?dition XM de MicroStation V8 d?sormais disponible pour les abonn?s ? Bentley SELECT ; la derni?re version de MicroStation conjugue puissance et simplicit? pour cr?er une nouvelle gamme de fonctionnalit?s en mati?re de conception d'ing?nierie

Presse économique / High-tech

EXTON, Pennsylvanie -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- June 29, 2005 -- Bentley Systems, Incorporated, a annoncé ce jour que l’édition XM de MicroStation V8, la dernière version du produit phare de la société, était désormais disponible en version bêta pour tous les abonnés à Bentley SELECT (un contrat facilitant l’accès pratique et financier des entreprises aux logiciels via la fourniture de nombreux services et ressources, NDLT).

MicroStation V8 XM Edition Now Available to Bentley SELECT Subscribers; Latest MicroStation Release Combines Power and Simplicity to Create New Category of Capability in Engineering Design

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 2005--Bentley Systems, Incorporated today announced that the XM Edition of its flagship MicroStation V8 product is now available as a beta release to all Bentley SELECT subscribers.

XM brings a series of innovations for simplicity to what is already widely regarded as the AEC industry's most powerful software platform.

The result is an unparalleled combination of power and simplicity

"The best high-tech products have a common progression: They start simple, then get powerful, then get powerful and simple," said Keith Bentley, chief technology officer.

"MicroStation V8 has long distinguished itself as the most comprehensive platform in our market, spanning 2D drafting, 3D modeling, change management, digital security, visualization, animation, and more.

Now, with its new interface offering a precise, dynamic match of features to tasks, XM makes it simple to bring the full power of MicroStation V8 to all users in all AEC organizations." This concept of power with simplicity is driven by four major innovations in MicroStation V8 XM Edition: structured workflows, structured content, 3D in PDF, and an updated GUI and new display subsystem

-- Structured workflows: MicroStation V8 XM Edition dynamically applies a specific set of tools, standards, and interface elements to a particular task in a work process, enabling users to work consistently and create consistent work

Structured workflows present users with a focused palette of tools specific to each task, rather than the entire set of MicroStation commands.

In addition, an organization's best practices (along with project, corporate, and industry standards) can be configured into MicroStation V8 XM Edition for each task, providing a superior alternative to referencing offline standards, manuals, and procedures

The ability to specify the correct tools, standards, and interface elements for each task in a workflow results in the standardization of core processes, enhanced efficiency, fewer errors throughout design and operations, and increased reusability of design.

Structured workflows cut the learning curve for new users by reducing the number of tools they have to learn and use to do their jobs.

Experienced users get their jobs done faster because they have instant access to tools specific to each task

-- Structured content: Managing and organizing project content is made simpler in MicroStation V8 XM Edition by providing users with a structure of their project-specific information.

The new edition provides a logical, structured view of projects, enabling users to easily navigate project content, define project organization, and establish and navigate links within and between designs, drawings, and supporting documentation

Managers now have the entire project and all of its complex relationships at their fingertips, making milestone reviews and project status reporting much simpler.

This structured view of project information within the MicroStation XM interface also enables users to easily and intelligently manage plot sets and project deliverables

-- 3D in PDF: MicroStation V8 XM Edition provides a simple way of packaging and delivering project information.

With the touch of a button, an entire AEC project - including MicroStation and AutoCAD drawings, specifications, and PDF renditions of Microsoft Office files - can be packaged in a single PDF document.

MicroStation V8 XM Edition users can now even include animated 3D models in PDF files, enabling AEC professionals and their clients to benefit from interactive 3D visualization.

These interactive PDF files allow users to quickly navigate through an AEC project using hyperlinks, bookmarks, and pages to get the information they need faster

3D in PDF is a simple, powerful way to instantly improve the quality of a design and engineering deliverable.

Because it's PDF, everyone on the client side can view it; because MicroStation packages all project information into the PDF document, the deliverable is complete and interactive; and, because it's 3D, the deliverable richly expresses the entire experience of the complex, roadway, or other asset to be built or improved

-- Updated GUI and new display subsystem: MicroStation V8 XM Edition introduces an updated user interface with improved customization tools to simplify design tasks.

Patented keyboard position mapping gives each user the flexibility to configure his or her entire keyboard, providing immediate access to any MicroStation command with the touch of a key

MicroStation V8 XM Edition includes a new, more powerful, and faster graphics system that significantly increases view and navigation speed in 2D and 3D designs.

This system leverages Microsoft DirectX technology, the same high-speed graphics technology that drives the video gaming industry.

Element transparency, support of 24-bit colors including the PANTONE color system, and display priority have been added to further advance MicroStation's design, drafting, and visualization capabilities

Attendees at BE Conference 2005, held May 8-12 in Baltimore, were able to preview the new MicroStation V8 XM Edition functionality.

In addition to listening to keynote presentations from Bentley executives, attendees participated in New Technology Update sessions highlighting specific MicroStation V8 XM Edition functionality.

Eager to try out this new technology, BE Conference attendees also filled every available seat in the XM test-drive sessions on each of the four days they were offered

All of the latest information on MicroStation V8 XM Edition can be found at www.bentley.com/xm

MicroStation V8 XM Edition Early Access Program The Early Access Program is the beta testing program for MicroStation V8 XM Edition.

All SELECT subscribers are invited to participate by downloading the beta software from the SELECTservices Web site (login required).

Feedback on the beta release is encouraged through a Bentley discussion group set up for this purpose.

The Early Access Program discussion group can be found by going to http://discussion.bentley.com and selecting bentley.microstation.v8.xmearlyaccess

Additional Integration with ProjectWise V8 XM Edition MicroStation and ProjectWise are completely integrated to provide AEC organizations with the most comprehensive platform for the design, construction, and operation of the world's infrastructure.

Now, from within MicroStation, users have direct access to ProjectWise.

Without leaving MicroStation they navigate a project's structure, view and search the project content, and link design elements to any document in a ProjectWise managed environment

Also, MicroStation workspaces are now supported by ProjectWise V8 XM Edition, enabling users to manage them in the same way as any other project resource

Lastly, AEC projects that standardize on the MicroStation XM Edition and ProjectWise XM Edition can use new Distributed DGN technology to support and streamline distributed engineering.

In a Distributed DGN workflow, drawings and models can be edited in parallel, and changes are automatically merged together

Innovations of the V8 Generation Because MicroStation V8 XM Edition is a part of the V8 Generation, it also features the following innovations:

-- DWG Compatibility: Enables MicroStation users to work directly with DWG files, DGN files, or any combination of the two.

Only in MicroStation can users fully participate in and deliver projects in either popular format - a clear competitive advantage for them and their organizations

-- Digital Security: Allows electronic signatures on drawings, as well as multi-level access privileges for projects

-- Design History: Gives users the ability to isolate and view any change or set of changes to a design.

This is especially helpful in Distributed DGN workflows if overlapping changes occur, as users can selectively choose which changes to merge together.

Using Design History, users can record, review, and restore a complete history of modifications, including all data and references

Examples of Structured Workflows Design teams can use structured workflows to streamline and standardize their work processes.

As an example, a simple visualization process may consist of three phases: creating the 3D model, adding lighting to the scene, and assigning materials.

In the 3D modeling phase, instead of searching through a palette of many tools, the user is automatically presented with just the tools necessary to complete the 3D modeling task by MicroStation V8 XM Edition's interface.

All of the relevant project and corporate design standards are integrated and enforced during that task

When placing a wall, for example, the designer knows that all of the characteristics of that wall have already been preset in the system.

The designer can now concentrate on the creative aspects of the work, not worrying about standards or finding the correct tools for the job.

When the 3D modeling task is complete, the designer can move to the lighting task, and will again automatically be provided access to the tools and preset standards needed

Civil engineering firms can use structured workflows to ensure that codes, standards, and tools are configured specifically for each step of the roadway design process.

Once the survey is complete, the MicroStation V8 XM Edition interface will display only the set of tools necessary to complete the ground modeling task and ensure that the ground model is built to the correct standards

Utilities and municipalities can use structured workflows to ensure that proper protocols are enforced in their end-to-end modeling processes.

By building standards directly into the tools, the integrity of each process is ensured - from field inspection to final design approval

About the BE Conference

The BE Conference, which consistently scores a 99 percent attendee satisfaction rating, is a once-a-year learning opportunity for Bentley users and their managers offering professional training, technology updates, keynotes, and best practice sharing.

At these sessions, attendees better themselves, better their organizations, and better the ways they can improve the world's infrastructure.

To pre-register for BE Conference 2006, go to www.be.org/preregister

About Bentley Bentley Systems, Incorporated provides software for the lifecycle of the world's infrastructure.

The company's comprehensive portfolio for the building, plant, civil, and geospatial vertical markets spans architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations.

With 2004 revenues exceeding $300 million, Bentley is the leading provider of AEC software to the Engineering News-Record Design 500 and major owner-operators

To receive Bentley press releases as they are issued, visit www.bentley.com/bentleywire.

For more information, visit www.bentley.com

Bentley, the "B" logo, BE, MicroStation, MicroStation V8 XM Edition, ProjectWise, ProjectWise V8 XM Edition, Bentley SELECT, SELECT, and XM are either registered or unregistered trademarks or service marks of Bentley Systems, Incorporated or one of its direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Other brands and product names are trademarks of their respective owners

CONTACT:

Bentley Systems, Incorporated Ron Kuhfeld, 610-321-6493

email: [email protected]