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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
 
     We consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Ardent
Software, Inc. of our report dated January 22, 1999 appearing in the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus, which is a part of such Registration Statement, and to the
reference to us under the headings "Summary Historical Financial Data" and
"Experts" in such Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
 
                                          DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Boston, Massachusetts
March 1, 1999