SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934




Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)       March 20, 2001
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                          DENDRITE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
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               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



         New Jersey                  0-26138            22-2786386
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(State or Other Jurisdiction         (Commission       (I.R.S. Employer
  of Incorporation)                  File Number)       Identification No.)




1200 Mount Kemble Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey                   07960-6767
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                           (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code         (973) 425-1200
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                    INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT

Item 5.       Other Events.

         Option Exercise.


         On March  16,  2001  John E.  Bailye,  Chairman  of the Board and Chief
Executive  Officer of Dendrite  International,  Inc. (the  "Company")  exercised
options for 200,000  shares of the Company  common stock at an exercise price of
$6.4167 per share and  continues to hold the shares,  no shares having been sold
into the market.




Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits.


                  None







                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                      DENDRITE INTERNATIONAL, INC.



Dated:   March ___, 2001              By:  _______________________________
                                           Christine A. Pellizzari
                                           Vice President, General Counsel and
                                           Secretary