<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 31, 1998 (unaudited) and 1997 (unaudited)
and the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended January
31, 1998 (unaudited) and 1997 (unaudited) and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                                                      
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                       3-MOS              
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               OCT-31-1998                 OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                  NOV-01-1997                 NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    JAN-31-1998                 JAN-31-1997
<CASH>                               15,790                      18,008      
<SECURITIES>                         19,347                      17,299      
<RECEIVABLES>                        43,493                      44,983      
<ALLOWANCES>                          1,270                     (1,665)      
<INVENTORY>                               0                           0      
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                     80,625                      86,854      
<PP&E>                               25,542                       7,649      
<DEPRECIATION>                     (17,969)                    (14,781)      
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      107,472                     109,613      
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                26,509                      25,652      
<BONDS>                                   0                           0      
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0                           0      
<PREFERRED>                               0                           0      
<COMMON>                                178                         177      
<OTHER-SE>                           79,163                      80,619      
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        107,472                     109,613      
<SALES>                              25,037                      22,272      
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                     25,037                      22,272      
<CGS>                                23,506                      18,945      
<TOTAL-COSTS>                             0                           0      
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          0                           0      
<LOSS-PROVISION>                          0                        (17)      
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        0                           0      
<INCOME-PRETAX>                       1,470                       3,206      
<INCOME-TAX>                            591                       1,403      
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                   1,470                       3,206      
<DISCONTINUED>                            0                           0      
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0                           0      
<CHANGES>                                 0                           0      
<NET-INCOME>                            879                       1,803      
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          0.05<F1>                    0.10<F1>    
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0.05                        0.10      
<FN>
<F1>THE AMOUNT IS REPORTED AS EPS BASIC AND NOT EPS PRIMARY.
</FN>