Exhibit 23.1

              CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements
(Form S-8 Nos. 333-59959 and 333-73015) pertaining to the Actuate Corporation
1998 Equity Incentive Plan, Actuate Corporation 1998 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan and Actuate Corporation 1998 Non-Employee Directors Option Plan and we also
consent to the incorporation by reference in Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-34410) of Actuate Corporation and in the related
prospectus of our report dated January 11, 2001, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of Actuate Corporation included in the Annual
Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2000.

                                                /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Palo Alto, California
March 8, 2001