Contact: Janet Davis, 512-263-1233, janet@realsoftware.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

REAL SOFTWARE SHIPS REALBASIC 2.

Major upgrade offers many new features including Windows compiler,
database engine, and database connectivity

AUSTIN, TEXAS - Apr. 12th, 1999 - REAL Software, Inc. today announced
that REALbasic 2.0 for Mac OS is shipping. This new version comes in
two editions: Standard and Professional. The Professional edition
contains all the features of the Standard edition but also includes
the ability to create Windows executable applications, a single-user,
relational database engine, and database connectivity. Users who
purchased REALbasic version 1 on or after March 5th, 1999 will
receive a free update to REALbasic Standard Edition version 2. A
fully functional trial version of REALbasic version 2 is available
from REAL Software's web site.

REALbasic 2.0 Standard Edition adds the following new features:

o New Interface Controls. Version 2 adds eight new Appearance Manager
savvy controls, including Bevel Button, Disclosure Triangle, Little
Arrows, Chasing Arrows, Separator, ImageWell, PopupArrow, and
Placard.The Listbox control has been improved to support different
fonts, font sizes and facings. It also supports column headers that
sort the data when clicked as well as checkbox and in-line editable
columns.

o Interface Binding. Add functionality to your interface without any
programming! For example, an editfield can be bound to a column of a
listbox so that the editfield will automatically display the data
from the selected row of the listbox. Users can even add their own
custom binding actions.

o Improved Multimedia Support. New commands add access to QuickTime
tracks, samples, keyframes, effects, even compression. Using these
commands you can edit, analyze and create QuickTime movies
programmatically. The new RGBSurface class gives you faster access to
pictures and the Color class now provides CMYK values. And REALbasic
now supports all of the QuickTime image formats. Version 2 also
provides a new, faster and more robust sprite animation engine.

o Improved Internet Support. You can start, monitor and stop dial-up
Internet connections using new PPP (point-to-point protocol) methods.

o Language and Platform Localization Support. Using the new constants
system, you can easily build applications that display different text
for different operating systems without writing any code. For
example, the Quit menu item can display "Quit" on the Macintosh but
"Exit" when the application is built for Windows. Using this same
system, you can enter interface text for most written languages and
then build a fully localized version of the application simply by
choosing a language when building a stand alone version of the
application.

o Improved AppleEvent Support. The new AppleEvent Recorder makes
writing code to send and receive AppleEvents even easier. Simply
click the Record button, perform the actions manually then use the
AppleEvents that were recorded. And your apps can now send
AppleEvents to themselves allowing you to create applications that
are AppleScript recordable.

o More Object-Oriented Power. C++ and Java programmers won't have to
leave behind Constructors, Destructors, or Virtual Methods in
REALbasic v2. It even supports its own form of multiple inheritance.

o Speed Optimization. Version 2 code runs even faster than version 1.
New commands have been added that allow you to shut off some of
REALbasic's built-in background tasks making your code run as fast as
possible. The performance of string comparison routines has also been
dramatically improved.

o Improved On-Line Language Reference. REALbasic commands can now be
displayed in alphabetical order or by category (theme) that match
those in the printed Language Reference. Themes make it easier to
find information when you don't know what commands to use.

o Double-Byte Character Support. REALbasic editors are double-byte
language savvy, allowing direct input and encoding of Japanese,
Chinese and Korean. Applications built with REALbasic automatically
support this as well, reducing the time to market in places such as
Japan, the second single language software market in the world.

o More languages supported. REALbasic version 2 will ship in Dutch,
English, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish (though not
all at the same time).

The REALbasic 2.0 Professional edition also includes these new features:

o Windows 95/98/NT Cross Compiler. With one click of the mouse
REALbasic creates stand-alone, double-clickable application that run
under Windows 95/98/NT. No additional programming required.

o Single-User Relational Database Engine. Many applications require
some kind of database. REALbasic's built-in, relational database
engine makes adding database functionality easy. There is no limit to
the number of tables, columns or rows and all the standard column
types are supported.

o Database Connectivity. REALbasic can connect to 4D Server, Oracle,
Microsoft SQL Server, OpenBase, dtf, PostgreSQL and any
ODBC-compatible database engine.

o Database-Independent Programming. REALbasic's database controls,
database commands and SQL implementation work with all of the
supported databases. This lets you build database applications that
can be easily switched from one database engine to another without
changing any programming. The applications you create can also easily
support multiple databases simultaneously.

REALbasic is the easy-to-use integrated development environment (IDE)
that enables users at all levels to create powerful stand-alone,
native 68k, PowerPC and Windows applications quickly and easily,
without having to learn a complex programming language such as C++ or
the details of the Macintosh or Windows Toolbox. REALbasic lets you
create the entire user interface for your applications in minutes
without any programming. Its programming language is an
object-oriented version of the BASIC programming language and is
highly compatible with Microsoft's Visual Basic.

REALbasic is available for download now from REAL Software's web site
at www.realsoftware.com. REALbasic can be purchased directly from
REAL Software for $99.95 (for the Standard Edition) and $299.95 (for
the Professional Edition). Academic pricing is also available.
REALbasic can be ordered directly from REAL Software's web site at
www.realsoftware.com; by phone at 512-263-1233; by fax at
512-263-1441; or sales@realsoftware.com.

REALbasic requires a Macintosh, Power Macintosh, or compatible
computer with a 68020 processor or higher; 2.5 MB RAM; System 7.1 or
later; and 80 MB of free hard disk space for full installation of the
software, documentation, and examples. REALbasic ships in CD-ROM
format, requiring a CD-ROM drive and can also be downloaded from REAL
Software's web site. REAL Software offers disk fulfillment for an
additional charge.

Founded in 1996 by Geoff Perlman, former ACI US Manager, REAL
Software, Inc. is the publisher of REALbasic, with headquarters in
Austin, Texas. For more information, visit the REAL Software web site
at www.realsoftware.com.
Geoff Perlman
REAL Software, Inc.
http://www.realsoftware.com
mailto:geoff@realsoftware.com