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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


                             [DATAWORKS LETTERHEAD]


                                                           Contact: Chris Jensen
                                                                  (714) 788-4013


                      DATAWORKS CLOSES THE DCD ACQUISITION

         San Diego, CA -- September 27, 1996 -- DataWorks Corporation (Nasdaq:
DWRX) announced today that the Company's definitive agreement to acquire all of
the outstanding stock of DCD Corporation has closed. The agreement, which was
signed in August 1996, provides DataWorks with the broadest range of enterprise
resource planning (ERP) offerings available for the mid-range manufacturing
market.

         Stuart Clifton, DataWorks President/CEO, commented, "DataWorks is now
well positioned to meet the varying requirements of mid-range companies by
offering `right-sized' ERP solutions to manufacturers with annual revenues
ranging anywhere from $3 million to $1 billion. In addition, since mid-sized
companies are one of the fastest-growing segments of the manufacturing market,
this acquisition positions us to be a single source solution provider for
customers as they expand their operations. Our plans to offer customers a
stepping stone migration path will allow them to easily move from one DataWorks
ERP solution to another as they grow, thus reducing the risks of changing
software vendors. This migration strategy should provide DataWorks with
increased revenue growth opportunities and a lower cost of sale."

         The DataWorks spectrum of right-sized ERP solutions will now include
DCD's Vista and Vantage -- software systems designed for smaller job shops, up
to about $20 million in sales who need an easy-to-use system that works "right
out of the box" without on-going, professional IS support. Larger mid-range
make-to-order discrete manufacturers and high volume repetitive manufacturing
firms with sales from approximately $20 million and above, that require a more

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comprehensive enterprise solution, will continue to be well served by DataWorks'
DataFlo and Man-Fact II products. These ERP systems offer broad, feature-rich
applications, yet still provide rapid deployment and require only minimal IS
support.

         DataWorks Executive Vice President and CFO, Norman Farquhar, commented,
"Customers and prospects have all had a particularly positive response to the
announcement of our agreement to acquire DCD -- and the resultant product scope
we'll be capable of offering to all mid-range customers. DCD has been profitable
since its inception, and the company continues to outpace its competitors with
revenue growth from its popular Windows-based products. Consequently, this
acquisition, to be accounted for as a "pooling of interests" for financial
accounting purposes, should be accretive, excluding one-time merger costs
estimated to be between $2.5 million -- $3 million. As consideration for the
acquisition, DataWorks would issue up to 1.8 million shares of its common stock
subject to certain reductions." DCD will operate as a separate business unit
reporting to Norman Farquhar.

         Robert W. Brandel, DCD President, said, "DCD employees and customers
welcome the prospect of new synergy with DataWorks' complementary customers and
products. We can now offer our customers increased financial strength, greater
development resources and an extended systems migration path. Our vision for the
combined companies includes offering customers the opportunity to have a
consistent family of products throughout the entire supply chain. For example, a
customer using DataFlo or Man-Fact in their manufacturing site may be linked
electronically to component and subassembly vendors running Vista or Vantage
systems. We believe this kind of supply chain integration provides customers
with a significant competitive advantage." Brandel, who has been with DCD since
1992, will continue to run the DCD business unit.

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         DCD develops, markets and supports business management software for the
make-to-order manufacturing segment, primarily job shops and custom
manufacturers. The company's products combine rich functionality, 16- and 32-bit
technology, and an award-winning graphical user interface. DCD has implemented
systems in over 3000 customer sites on both PC and IBM mid-range platforms. The
company is based in Minneapolis, MN.

         DataWorks is a supplier of software solutions for mid-range discrete
product manufacturers. The company's products feature advanced ERP system
functionality combined with open system technologies, including client-server
architecture, relational database and easy-to-use Windows-based graphical user
interfaces. DataWorks, with over 600 sites, is one of the first manufacturing
software companies to have customers completely installed and operational on the
Windows NT operating system. Worldwide headquarters is located in San Diego, CA.

         For more information, contact Chris Jensen, DataWorks, 21 Technology
Dr., Irvine, CA 92618, (714) 788-4013, email: jensenc@dataworks.com.

         This news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties, including the risks associated with the integration of
the two companies and those associated with establishing new, or improving
existing, relationships or alliances with the company. Certain of these factors,
as well as additional risks and uncertainties, are detailed from time to time in
DataWorks' periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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