<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>  THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED
FROM  THE  REGISTRANT'S  1997  AUDITED   CONSOLIDATED  BALANCE  SHEETS  AND
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND> 
<CIK>                         0000939730
<NAME>                        EXPERT SOFTWARE, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1.00
<CASH>                                         5,685
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  4,636
<ALLOWANCES>                                   4,361
<INVENTORY>                                    2,922
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               17,617
<PP&E>                                         3,996
<DEPRECIATION>                                 (2,726)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 22,233
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          9,701
<BONDS>                                        0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       76
<OTHER-SE>                                     12,456
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   22,233
<SALES>                                        33,208
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               33,208
<CGS>                                          12,985
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  30,772
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               346
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             5
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                2,704
<INCOME-TAX>                                   1,001
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            1,703
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   1,703
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  0.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  0.21