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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.3
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
     We consent to the inclusion in the Registration Statement of Ardent
Software, Inc. on Form S-4 of our report dated March 1, 1999, which contains an
explanatory paragraph related to the Company's ability to continue as a going
concern, on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Prism
Solutions, Inc. and subsidiaries. We also consent to the reference to our firm
under the caption "Experts."
 
   
                                          /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
    
                                          PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
 
San Jose, California
   
March 22, 1999