Software maker Macromedia plans to announce on Monday an update to Authorware, its collection of tools for creating computer-delivered educational content.

Authorware is one of Macromedia's oldest product lines, initially used to produce educational CD-ROMs for corporate and academic settings and later expanded to include extensive support for online delivery. The software lets designers combine text, images, video and applications into an interactive learning experience.

The new version, 7, includes a number of enhancements intended to streamline the process of putting together such presentations, most notably the ability to import files created in Microsoft's PowerPoint software. Many professional e-learning modules begin as PowerPoint slides created by co-workers, said Miriam Geller, product manager for Macromedia.

"There's a lot of customers who have told us they have content from PowerPoint they'd like to reuse," Geller said. "We want to make the application easier for people to get going with."

Macromedia earlier this year introduced a new line of Breeze products for business workers who need to create basic educational presentations based on PowerPoint.

The new Authorware also includes support for creating applications in the JavaScript programming language and tools for integrating courseware with corporate data systems, so test scores and other data are automatically sent to the right department.

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