<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS INC. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997
AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER
31, 1997, BOTH INCLUDED IN THE FORM 10-K OF SUNGARD DATA SYSTEMS, INC. FOR THE
TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                          64,938
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  220,677
<ALLOWANCES>                                    17,895
<INVENTORY>                                          0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               310,079
<PP&E>                                         319,585
<DEPRECIATION>                                 199,589
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 786,334
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          224,523
<BONDS>                                          2,765
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           889
<OTHER-SE>                                     558,157
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   862,151
<SALES>                                              0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               862,151
<CGS>                                                0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  538,664<F1>
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                12,808<F2>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               2,584
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                133,704
<INCOME-TAX>                                    56,158
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             77,546
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    77,546
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.89<F3>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.87<F3>
<FN>
<F1>EXCLUDES SELLING, MARKETING AND ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AND PURCHASED IN-
PROCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MERGER COSTS.
<F2>PURCHASED IN-PROCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS AND MERGER COSTS.
<F3>INCLUDES PURCHASED IN-PROCESS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND MERGER COSTS
TOTALING $0.10 PER SHARE. ALSO, REFLECTS SEPTEMBER 1997 TWO-FOR-ONE STOCK
SPLIT.
</FN>