(Source: PRNewswire)MENLO PARK, Calif., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- eXpresso(TM) Corporation, a pioneering provider of online community solutions for businesses, today announced the unveiling of an updated version of its popular Excel(R) Offline add-in tool that lets spreadsheet owners and their designated users access and edit Excel files outside the online, collaborative eXpresso environment.

eXpresso's Excel Offline tool offers greater flexibility and convenience for users of eXpresso, the award-winning hosted online service that lets subscribers upload, securely store, and organize common Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. While eXpresso's collaborative online environment remains its primary and intended mode of use, the Excel Offline add-in nonetheless delivers three additional capabilities:

-- an ability to use the full complement of native Excel features and capabilities

-- access to the user's personal macros, shortcut keys and other self- defined toolsets

-- the power to temporarily "check out" a file for use when traveling or when online access is not readily available

The new version of the offline tool has been overhauled to provide greater ease of use. The look and feel has been changed, and a number of usability upgrades provided to make the tool more convenient and better integrated with the eXpresso online environment.

"eXpresso's Excel Offline add-in adds a great deal of value, as well as control, to our online service. This upgrade will no doubt make the add-in even more popular," said George Langan, chief executive officer of eXpresso. "Our goal is to provide the most efficient, convenient and productive solution for Excel collaboration, and this new version is a valuable step in achieving that objective."

Convenient, Secure

Unlike some other collaborative spreadsheet solutions, eXpresso's offline solution preserves the advantages and security of working on spreadsheets online. For example, while some solutions allow users to make a copy of a downloaded file using the "save as" feature, such a capability in effect allows users other than the spreadsheet owner to "hijack" files otherwise intended for confidential or secure use.

eXpresso, on the other hand, automatically erases the downloaded version of any eXpresso Excel file the next time the person checks into the service. Upon check-in, eXpresso also automatically uploads and saves the changed version on its server, to preserve the audit trail of downloads and/or changes.

To further ensure accountability and security, any spreadsheets opened offline from the eXpresso environment are locked for editing by other users; once the spreadsheet owner has saved any changes made to eXpresso and closed the spreadsheet, the lock is released.

Owners can also give others privileges to download files for editing or simply for viewing. Owners are automatically notified each time a file is downloaded; once the spreadsheet is "returned" through uploading, the owner is again notified and given a record of changes made through a cell history report. Versions of spreadsheets can also be compared in order to track changes.

Free Download

The newly updated eXpresso Excel Online add-in is optimized for Windows Vista(R) and Microsoft Office(R) 2007, and is available for free download from within eXpresso. The add-in can also be downloaded at no cost at http://www.expressocorp.com/tour/expresso-addin-for-excel.

About eXpresso(TM):

eXpresso is a pioneering provider of managed business community solutions. The company offers secure, hosted online workspaces suitable for business collaboration, beginning with the Excel spreadsheet environment. The unique capabilities in the eXpresso service leverage multiple homegrown, patent- pending technologies, enabling users to access, share, compare and collaborate on business information from any location. The privately-owned company is headquartered in Menlo Park, California. To learn more, visit http://www.expressocorp.com/.

eXpresso is a trademark of eXpresso Corporation. Microsoft Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

eXpresso Corporation

CONTACT: Valerie Contino of SS|PR, +1-847-415-9307, vcontino@sspr.com,for eXpresso Corporation

Web site: http://www.expressocorp.com/