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Press Release Summary:



MSC.Patran 2004 interactive, general-purpose CAE modeler enables engineers to visualize and test virtual product designs through computer-based simulation. It allows users to interface with their preferred CAD environments and CAE tools to take advantage of finite element solver technologies. Software also offers Simulation Process Capture functionality with Result Templates and Plot Sets that help engineers automate processes.



Original Press Release:



MSC.Software Announces Release of MSC.Patran 2004



New Version of Leading Visualization and Modeling Software Gives Engineers New Functionality and Enhanced Interoperability With Leading CAD and CAE Products

Santa Ana, Calif. - November 4, 2003 - MSC.Software Corp. (NYSE: MNS), the leading global provider of virtual product development (VPD) products including simulation software and services today announced the release of MSC.Patran 2004. MSC.Patran 2004 is an interactive, general-purpose computer-aided engineering (CAE) modeler that enables engineers to visualize and test virtual product designs through computer-based simulation.

"MSC.Patran 2004 represents our ongoing commitment to provide leading simulation modeling products that better facilitate enterprise-wide Virtual Product Development efficiencies," said Frank Perna, chairman and chief executive officer of MSC.Software. "There are thousands of MSC.Patran customers around the world who have provided excellent feedback and support for this new release and we are confident it will exceed their expectations and increase the efficiency of their product development process."

MSC.Patran is the most popular modeler in the VPD and CAE community, with thousands of users around the world. MSC.Patran 2004 continues MSC.Software's open systems policy, which allows users to interface with their preferred CAD environments and CAE tools including MSC.Nastran, MSC.Marc and MSC.Dytran, and third party tools. Several significant enhancements aimed at increasing user productivity have been implemented in MSC.Patran 2004 including:

· Enhanced Interoperability: MSC.Patran 2004 has been updated to take advantage of today's leading finite element solver technologies like those offered by MSC.Nastran 2004, MSC.Marc & MSC.Dytran, as well as third party solvers such as ABAQUS, LS-DYNA and ANSYS. One such example of this enhancement is how MSC.Patran 2004 has been optimized to help customers take advantage of the new capabilities available in MSC.Nastran 2004 including Implicit Nonlinear, Rotor Dynamics and the MSC.Nastran / MSC.ADAMS integration.

· Simulation Process Capture: MSC.Patran 2004 has added two capabilities that help engineers automate time-consuming processes: Result Templates and Plot Sets.

· Result Templates give customers the ability to save and edit the Spectrum and Range of plots. This provides an organization a convenient means of storing result display settings in the database so consistency of results can be enforced throughout an organization

· Plot Sets: When documenting simulations for report purposes, you typically need to include all of the pertinent load cases, iterations and other changing boundary conditions. This means, in many instances, manually creating hundreds of plots which can be extremely tedious and time consuming. Plots Sets help the user define all of the possible plotting information up front in a new spreadsheet tool. Plot Sets then will automatically create all of your plots, saving significant time.

· CAD Integration: MSC.Patran 2004 has made several enhancements to its CAD Preferences to improve its ability to work with leading CAD packages including CATIA, Unigraphics NX2.0 and products featuring Acis 11

In order to help MSC.Software customers understand the significant enhancements made to MSC.Patran 2004, MSC.Software is hosting a public webinar, highlighting "What's New in MSC.Patran 2004". This public webinar will take place on Thursday, November 6, at 08:30 Pacific Time / 11:30 Eastern Time. To register or to find out more about this event, please visit: www.mscsoftware.com/events/patran2004/

MSC.Patran 2004 is available directly from the MSC.Software sales team and through its worldwide network of resellers. For more information on these and other enhancements please visit www.mscpatran.com

About MSC.Software Corporation

MSC.Software (NYSE: MNS) is the leading global provider of virtual product development tools that help companies make money, save time and reduce costs associated with designing and testing manufactured products. MSC.Software works with thousands of companies in hundreds of industries to develop better products faster by utilizing information technology, software, services and systems. MSC.Software employs more than 1400 people in 23 countries. For additional information about MSC.Software's products and services, please visit www.mscsoftware.com.

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