GRASS VALLEY, Calif. — Grass Roots Software, a leader in presentation technologies for church communicators, March 30 announced the availability of Powertool, a new playback application for Microsoft PowerPoint® users.

Featuring dual screen playback and a simple drag-drop interface, Powertool alleviates non-linear presentations for worship, corporate communication and educational environments by enhancing PowerPoint's ability to project a slideshow on a second monitor or data projector.

"Powertool makes it easy to access multiple PowerPoint presentations simultaneously," said Lou Douros, president of Grass Roots Software. "While PowerPoint creates great linear communication, Powertool helps presenters manage sidetracks, unexpected questions and time shortages during presentations."

Grass Roots Software has served thousands of churches around the world with SundayPlus, a software package that simplifies the playback of movies, text, images and sounds during worship. Now with Powertool, churches using PowerPoint can benefit from the visually rich, dual screen control that made the Grass Roots design team famous.

"Future versions of SundayPlus will integrate Powertool for those churches who want to do more than show PowerPoint files," continues Douros. "Not long ago, churches were borrowing these technologies from the board room. This is one product developed for the church that will make it easier for business presenters and educators to create dynamic presentations."

Powertool's features include:

* Simplified Workflow: Powertool's workflow can be described in three sentences. Import or drag and drop several PowerPoint files into the play list. Click on each one to rip open thumbnails of the PowerPoint files in separate windows. Click on any slide from any PowerPoint to show the slide.

* Versatility: Powertool can also be played in a completely linear path, including leaping from the end of one PowerPoint to the start of another by using familiar keystrokes such as arrow keys, page up/page down and spacebar. Also borrowing from SundayPlus, "GoFile" technology, Powertool users may automatically zip up and share entire play lists, files and all.

* Affordability: Powertool's broad market application and attractive price point ($89 per license) may be the best news of all. To learn more about Powertool, visit www.go-powertool.com.