<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ABR INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. FIRST QUARTER AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 34,144,270 <SECURITIES> 110,471,406 <RECEIVABLES> 7,082,677 <ALLOWANCES> 130,913 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 154,574,277 <PP&E> 48,091,353 <DEPRECIATION> 4,793,911 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 231,440,755 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 29,756,502 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 273,870 <OTHER-SE> 197,378,966 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 231,440,755 <SALES> 15,234,938 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 15,234,938 <CGS> 8,824,316 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,675,148 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,432,776 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,168,250 <INCOME-TAX> 1,667,290 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 3,500,960 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 3,500,960 <EPS-PRIMARY> .13 <EPS-DILUTED> .13