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                                                               EXHIBIT - (a)(7)



For more information, contact:              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kimberly Leo
(415) 252-2000
(415) 703-0626 FAX
IR@macromedia.com


                     Macromedia Announces Voluntary Employee
                          Stock Option Exchange Program


SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- May 4, 2001--Macromedia, Inc. (NASDAQ:MACR) today
announced that its Board of Directors has approved a voluntary stock option
exchange program for its employees.

Under the program, Macromedia employees will have the opportunity to cancel
previously granted options in exchange for an equal number of new options to be
granted at a future date. The exercise price of these new options will be set at
the fair market value of the Company's common stock as of the new grant date.
Macromedia expects that there will be no accounting charges to the company as a
result of the stock option exchange program.

Except for the historical information contained herein, matters discussed in
this news release may be considered forward looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including those related to the risk of integrating
newly acquired technologies and products, quarterly fluctuations of operating
results, risks related to whether the merger closes and related integration and
successful operation of the combined company, customer acceptance of new
products and services and new versions of existing products, impact of
competition, the risk of delay in product development and release dates, risks
of product returns, the economic conditions in the domestic and significant
international markets, investments in new business opportunities and the other
risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including without
limitation its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended March 31, 2000 as they may be updated or amended with future
filings. The actual results the Company achieves may differ materially from any
forward looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties.

ABOUT MACROMEDIA

Macromedia is passionate about what the Web can be. Its award-winning products
empower developers to provide the most engaging experience on the Web, and
enable more effective e-business. Headquartered in San Francisco, Macromedia
(NASDAQ: MACR) has more than 1,600 employees worldwide and is available on the
Internet at www.macromedia.com.


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