<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS AND
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000791027
<NAME>                        Tropic Communications, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
<CURRENCY>                                     US Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
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<PERIOD-END>                                   OCT-31-1996
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