Netobjects Announces Netobjects Scriptbuilder 2.0 Submitted By: Pleon Tuesday, 17 February 1998

NetObjects Announces NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0 Submitted by: Pleon Tuesday, 17 February 1998

17 February 1998 .... new product offers powerful, open, browser-independent scripting environment for the Web NetObjects, Inc., today announced NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0, an enhanced version of the leading script editor Acadia Infuse, which the company recently acquired from Acadia Software, Inc. (See separate release for details). NetObjects made several user-requested enhancements to Acadia Infuse before launching the product as NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0. A pre-release trial version of the software is available from the NetObjects Web site at www.netobjects.com. The final product is expected to ship within 60 days. As Web sites evolve from static billboards to dynamic business entities, over one million developers, many of whom identify themselves as "scripters," are playing an increasingly important role in Web site building. Scripting has become ubiquitous because it is more accessible than programming languages, and therefore, better suited to the skill sets of current Web site builders, many of whom are drawn from creative backgrounds. In addition, for the first time, scripters have access to Web-based industry standards such as JavaScript and JScript. Scripters are currently looking for products that automate the process and reduce the tedium associated with manual scripting. NetObjects ScriptBuilder is the first product to be delivered by NetObjects' Application Development Tools division, a newly formed business unit. The new unit, headed by executive vice president Morris Taradalsky, is chartered with focusing on the needs of application and enterprise developers.

Page 1 NetObjects ScriptBuilder offers scripters and advanced HTML authors a powerful script editor that combines rich development tools with a point and click environment to enable rapid creation of both client and server-side scripts. Using NetObjects ScriptBuilder, Web developers can write scripts to add sophisticated animation effects and interactivity, advanced transaction capabilities, and other sophisticated application functionality to their Web sites. The product supports the divergent Netscape and Microsoft Web scripting environments, providing full support for HTML, DHTML, JavaScript, JScript, VBScript, Netscape's Livewire extensions and Microsoft's Active Server Pages extensions. NetObjects ScriptBuilder complements NetObjects' existing products, NetObjects Fusion and NetObjects TeamFusion, and extends NetObjects' Web authoring product offerings for professional site-builders. NetObjects ScriptBuilder can also be used in conjunction with HTML tools like Allaire HomeSite, Microsoft FrontPage etc. The product is best suited for Web developers and advanced HTML authors who want to create dynamic Web sites that include application functionality. "The acquisition of Acadia Infuse adds yet another best of breed product to NetObjects' arsenal of leading Web site-building software," said Morris Taradalsky, executive vice president, Application Development Tools division, NetObjects, Inc. "The combination of NetObjects ScriptBuilder and NetObjects' authoring products, NetObjects Fusion 3.0 and NetObjects TeamFusion proves that advanced site-builders can rely on NetObjects to provide a robust product family that will enable them to easily build and manage complex Web sites and applications." NetObjects ScriptBuilder is the only product specifically designed to facilitate client and server-side scripting for the Web. The product bridges the gap between high-end and proprietary server-side development tools like Microsoft's Visual Interdev, and HTML products like Allaire HomeSite and Microsoft FrontPage 98, that provide limited or no support for client and server-side scripting. The acquisition of Acadia's products follows the launch of NetObjects Fusion 3.0 and the successful adoption of NetObjects TeamFusion, and furthers NetObjects' position as

Page 2 the vendor with must-have products for building professional Web sites. NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0. has been named a Top Pick by Lycos, has received several winning reviews and is used by leading developers in companies such as Boeing, Merrill Lynch, MCI, Nabisco and Occidental Petroleum. A pre-release version of NetObjects ScriptBuilder 2.0 and more product details are available from NetObjects' Web site www.netobjects.com. "NetObjects ScriptBuilder is a world-class product that is very impressive in several ways- it is fast, complete, reliable, and exceptionally useful for HTML, JavaScript, and LiveWire development," said Keith Harvey, advanced technology consultant at Omni Healthcare. "Using ScriptBuilder enables me to create advanced, dynamic Web sites in an efficient and productive manner." NetObjects ScriptBuilder Features and Benefits

Page 3 - Support for all Web Scripting Technologies - NetObjects ScriptBuilder allows authors to do both client and server-side scripting, for Netscape and Microsoft's divergent scripting environments. - Visual IDE (Integrated Development Environment) - NetObjects ScriptBuilder provides a familiar development environment, instantly complementing authors' existing development tools. - Script Editor - ScriptBuilder provides a best of breed editor for scripting that enables user-definable color syntaxing and extensive search and replace. - Script Inspector -The Script Inspector gives users vital information about which browsers and browser versions are required for their script to run in order to ensure that their Web sites are accessible to the broadest audience. - Script Library - NetObjects ScriptBuilder's Script Library provides a convenient way for advanced users to manage and reuse frequently-used scripts. Script Library also provides beginners with an efficient way to start scripting and to employ professionally coded, reusable scripts. - Info Tree - NetObjects ScriptBuilder's Info tree provides a single reference point for language elements. -Document Map - NetObjects ScriptBuilder's Map view finds embedded functions and scriptable objects visually, allowing users to navigate long and complex Web pages quickly. - Internal Preview - The Internal Preview feature speeds the testing and debugging of a page and user-defined color syntax highlighting makes code easier to read and debug. In addition, by automating tasks such as auto Indent and auto scripting, ScriptBuilder enhances productivity by reducing errors.

Page 4 Availability and pricing NetObjects ScriptBuilder will be available in the UK and Europe in March 1998. Recommended price: UKP65 Notes to editors NetObjects is committed to supplying innovative products that automate and simplify the process of designing, authoring, publishing and updating web sites. These are aimed not only at professional web site designers but also at user companies who are maintaining their own sites. Their appeal in an ever-expanding market is such that NetObjects has already attracted major funding from IBM, AT&T Ventures and other major corporate and private investors. For more information, please visit NetObjects World Wide Web site at http://www.netobjects.com.

Page 5 The NetObjects product family consists of NetObjects Fusion Personal Edition for entry-level site builders, NetObjects Fusion 2.0 for experienced site builders and NetObjects TeamFusion for site building teams. All three products are the first in their class to integrate automated site building, professional quality design and publishing, thereby lowering the cost, time and tedium of building high-quality Web sites. NetObjects Fusion was finalist in the development tool of the year category in the 1997 UK Internet Awards and has received commendations for excellence in usability and best Internet software in the 1997 PC Magazine Technology Innovation Awards.

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