Microsoft Develops Office 98 Add-In for Integration With FileMaker Pro

Microsoft Celebrates Its One-Year Anniversary of Office 98, More Than
1.5 million Copies Distributed Worldwide

REDMOND, Wash. – April 22, 1999 – Microsoft Corp. is announcing today
the availability of a new add-in that extends the functionality of
its award-winning productivity suite, Office 98 Macintosh Edition,
which has sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide. This add-in
will make it easy for customers to use familiar tools in Office 98
with data stored in FileMaker Pro for Macintosh. For the first time,
it is easy to integrate the power of FileMaker Pro with the analysis
and communication features of Office 98. The free* Office
98/FileMaker Pro Importer is available for immediate download from
Microsoft’s Macintosh Web site, MacTopia, at
http://www.microsoft.com/mac/.

“We are thrilled with customers’ response to Office 98 around the world and pleased that Office 98 was chosen more than any other application to complement the iMac,” said Ben Waldman, general manager, Macintosh Business Unit at Microsoft. “Office 98 customers represent all types of users, from enterprise, to small business, to the home – from G3 owners to iMac owners.” He added, “Customers asked for integration between Office 98 and FileMaker Pro. We listened to their feedback and delivered technology that provides easy integration to meet their needs.”

The Office 98/FileMaker Pro Importer gives customers an easy way to
take advantage of information stored in databases by adding a new
command directly within Word 98 and Microsoft Excel 98. The new
Importer is an easy-to-use add-in that walks users through the simple
steps to import small databases into Office 98. Macintosh users will
save time using Word 98’s Mail Merge feature to seamlessly use
FileMaker Pro data to automate mass mailings like personal and
customer correspondence. Applying powerful Excel 98 features, such as
PivotTable and PivotChart dynamic views, with FileMaker Pro data
helps users improve the analysis of their data and enhance
decision-making. The integration between Office 98 and FileMaker Pro
is an example of Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to adding value to
Macintosh customers’ experience with Office.

“Together, FileMaker and Microsoft are taking significant steps in a
real partnership to simplify data sharing and delight our mutual
customers,” said Dominique Philippe Goupil, president, FileMaker Inc.
“Our customers will find that the new add-in will make it incredibly
easy to combine powerful data from FileMaker Pro with Microsoft
Office 98, a key desktop standard.”

“Microsoft Office and FileMaker Pro are two mainstays for Macintosh
users all over the world and represent some of the best in Macintosh
software development,” said Clent Richardson, Apple’s vice president
of Worldwide Developer Relations. “Apple is excited to see strong
developer support and collaboration between Microsoft and FileMaker;
it’s good for the Macintosh and great for customers.”

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed
with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to
take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.

*Connect-time charges may apply.