FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 2, 1991



ALPHA SOFTWARE ANNOUNCES NETWORKABLE ALPHA FOUR VERSION 2

           . . . New PowerScripts provide enhanced customizability
                          and power for nonprogrammers


BURLINGTON, Mass. -- Alpha Software Corp. announced today Alpha Four

Version 2, the relational database for nonprogrammers.  Version 2 offers

network support and the ability to design sophisticated database

applications through a new scripting facility and enhanced application

outlining capabilities.


"In designing this version, we challenged ourselves to maintain two

qualities for which Alpha Four is best known, power and ease-of-use,"

says Selwyn Rabins, Alpha Software co-chairman.  "Version 2 further

empowers the business user by providing an easy-to-set-up and use

networkable, relational database solution and a powerful scripting

capability.  Now nonprogrammers can build the kind of professional

applications that previously required programming."


Alpha Four Version 2 is now Novell and NetBios compatible.  Using

Version 2 in a networked environment requires the user to fill in one

simple screen; file and record locking are then handled automatically.



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PowerScripts, a powerful scripting facility, brings further

customizability to Alpha Four users.  Using PowerScripts, application

designers can develop seamless, professional-quality applications

complete with custom menu systems, help messages, prompts, dialog boxes,

pick lists and action buttons for interaction with the end user.

Developers may create PowerScripts to automate complex operations and

add new features and functionality to Alpha Four applications.


PowerScripts also gives the more advanced user access to other DOS

programs (such as Clipper, FoxPro, Lotus 1-2-3, WordPerfect or any

custom DOS program) by allowing them to invoke other programs from

within an Alpha Four application and pass information back and forth.

This gives application builders the added flexibility of "snap-in"

custom extensions to the systems they build in Alpha Four.


In addition to giving the business user more power and customizability

through network support and scripting capabilities, Alpha Four Version 2

has improved performance over Version 1.1.  Indexing speeds are up to

five times faster, exceeding those of dBASE and are comparable to the

fastest in the PC database industry.  Indexes may also include filter

expressions which allow the user to include only those records that meet

specified criteria.





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Alpha Four Version 2 offers designer color palettes on VGA screens,

comprehensive password controls to protect data from unauthorized users,

and crosstabs that allow the user to summarize data on two dimensions.

Version 2 provides Postscript printer support (Courier font only),

instant DOS access and a built-in telephone dialer.  New desktops allow

the user to define multiple desktops of open databases, eliminating the

need to return to the main menu to switch between files.  Alpha Four

takes advantage of extended or expanded memory to enhance program

performance.  Alpha Four Version 2 also has over 30 new functions.


Available in mid-December, Alpha Four multi-user version is priced at

$549.  Multiple-user versions are available in network packs of three,

five and 30, and are priced at $749, $1,249 and $4,995, respectively.

At the same time, Alpha Software will release a text-based OS/2 version.

Pricing for both versions of the software will be identical.  Special

upgrade pricing is available for registered users.


Alpha Software Corp., founded in 1982, is a developer of business

software for the IBM PC and PC-compatible microcomputers.  Alpha Four

1.1 was the top rated relational database in a PC Week product

comparison; received PC World's Best Buy award and has been ranked by PC

World's readers as a World Class Product; received the Readers' Choice

award for "Best End User Database" by DBMS Magazine; was rated an

Excellent Value by InfoWorld; and won the PC Magazine Editors' Choice

award.  Additionally, according to the International Data Corporation

1991 Database Report, Alpha Four is the fastest growing database in the

United States.

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Other Alpha Software products include Alpha RPL, a resident programming

language that gives developers power to automate complex or repetitive

tasks, create complete memory-resident applications, integrate diverse

DOS applications, and modernize interfaces; Keyworks 3.0 and Keyworks

Advanced; and dB.Quick, a database utility program that allows users

instant access to dBASE data from within other application programs.

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Contact:

Karen Reynolds                           Sarah Blume
Alpha Software Corp.                   Brodeur & Partners
617-229-2924 x207                       617-894-0003