As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 1997

                                                    Registration No. 333-_____
===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                               ------------------


                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          Dendrite International, Inc.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                   New Jersey
                (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or
                                  Organization)
                                   22-2786386
                     (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

           1200 Mount Kemble Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey 07960-6797
                            Telephone: (201) 425-1200
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                          Dendrite International, Inc.
                        1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                              Christopher J. French
                  Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
                          Dendrite International, Inc.
                            1200 Mount Kemble Avenue
                        Morristown, New Jersey 07960-6797
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                 (201) 425-1200
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===============================================================================
                                        Proposed
                                        Maximum       Proposed
  Title of Each                         Offering       Maximum        Amount
     Class of                            Price        Aggregate         of
 Securities to be      Amount to be       Per         Offering     Registration
    Registered          Registered      Share(1)        Price          Fee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, no         150,000        9.375          1,406,250      426.14
par value
===============================================================================

(1)  Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(c) based upon the average of the high and low sales
     prices of the Company's Common Stock, as quoted through the NASDAQ National
     Market, on March 25, 1997.


                                       I-1


<PAGE>



                                     PART I
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE


         As permitted by Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), this registration statement omits the information
specified in Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information
specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the plan covered by
this registration statement as required by Rule 428(b). Such documents are not
being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as
part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements
pursuant to Rule 424 of such Act.


                                       I-2


<PAGE>



                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference

         The following documents filed with the Commission by the registrant,
Dendrite International, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), pursuant
to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are
incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

         1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1996 filed with the Commission on March 31, 1997.

         2. The description of the Company's Common Stock, no par value ("Common
Stock") contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with
the Commission on May 24, 1995.

         3. The description of the Common Stock contained in the Company's
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the
Commission on June 9, 1995.

         4. The description of the Common Stock contained in the Company's
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the
Commission on June 21, 1995.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all shares of Common Stock offered
hereby have been sold or which deregisters all such shares then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or
in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

Item 4.   Description of Securities

         Not applicable.

Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

         Not applicable.


                                      II-1


<PAGE>



Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         Section 14A:3-5 of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act ("NJBCA")
gives the Company power to indemnify each of its directors and officers against
expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceeding involving him by
reason of his being or having been a director or officer if (a) he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the
best interests of the Company and (b) with respect to any criminal proceeding,
he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. However, in a
proceeding by or in the right of the Company, there shall be no indemnification
in respect of any liabilities or expenses if the officer or director shall have
been adjudged liable to the Company unless the court in such proceeding
determines he is entitled to indemnification for such liabilities and/or
expenses. Furthermore, no indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of a
director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to such
director or officer establishes that his acts or omissions (a) were in breach of
his duty of loyalty to the Company and its stockholders, (b) were not in good
faith or involved a knowing violation of law or (c) resulted in receipt by the
director or officer of an improper personal benefit. The NJBCA defines an act or
omission in breach of a person's duty of loyalty as an act or omission which
that person knows or believes to be contrary to the best interests of the
Company or its stockholders in connection with a matter in which he has a
material conflict of interest. If a director or officer is successful in a
proceeding, the statute mandates that the Company indemnify him against
expenses.

         The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as permitted by
New Jersey law, eliminates the personal liability of the directors and officers
to the Company or its shareholders for monetary damages for breaches of such
director's or officer's duty of care or other duties as a director or officer;
except liabilities for any breach of duty based upon an act or omission (a) in
breach of such person's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders,
(b) not in good faith or involving a knowing violation of law or (c) resulting
in receipt by such person of an improper personal benefit. In addition, the
Company's Restated By-laws provide broad indemnification rights to directors and
officers so long as the director or officer acted in a manner believed in good
faith to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the Company and with
respect to criminal proceedings if the director had no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The Company believes that the
protection provided by these provisions will help the Company attract and retain
qualified individuals to serve as officers and directors. These provisions also
will limit the remedies available to a stockholder who is dissatisfied with a
Board decision protected by these provisions, and such stockholder's only remedy
may be to bring a suit to prevent the Board's action.

         The Company maintains a directors' and officers' liability insurance
policy.

Item 7.   Exemption from Registration Claimed

         Not Applicable


                                      II-2


<PAGE>



Item 8.   Exhibits

Exhibit
  No.             Description


3.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated November 30,
         1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's July
         30, 1996 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Commission on
         August 15, 1996).

3.2      By-laws of the Company, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to
         Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
         quarter ended September 30, 1995, filed with the Commission on November
         13, 1995).

4.1      Specimen of Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
         to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the
         Commission on May 17, 1995).

4.2      The Dendrite International, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
         dated April 1, 1997.

5.1      Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to the validity of Common Stock, no
         par value, issued under the Stock Plans.

23.1     Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (contained in Exhibit 5.1 attached
         hereto).

23.2     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants.

24.1     Power of Attorney is included in the signature page of the Registration
         Statement.

Item 9.   Required Undertakings

     (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being 
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include 
     any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
     previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
     to such information in the Registration Statement;

         (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

         (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

     (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the



                                      II-3


<PAGE>


registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                      II-4


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly
authorized, in the Township of Harding, State of New Jersey, on the 31st day of
March, 1997.

                                           DENDRITE INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                           By: /s/ John E. Bailye
                                               John E. Bailye
                                               Chief Executive Officer,
                                               President and Director


         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints John E. Bailye and Charles C.
Warczakowski, and each of them acting individually, as his attorneys-in-fact and
agents, each with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities,
to sign the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Dendrite International, Inc.
and any and all amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, including
any and all pre-effective or post-effective amendments, and to file the same,
with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully as he
might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies, approves and confirms all that
his said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to
the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated:


        Name                             Title                        Date
        ----                             -----                        ----


/s/ John E. Bailye               Chief Executive Officer,
---------------------------      President and Director          March 31, 1997
    John E. Bailye


/s/ Charles C. Warczakowski      Vice President, Finance and
---------------------------      Treasurer (Chief Financial
    Charles C. Warczakowski      Officer and Principal
                                 Accounting Officer)             March 31, 1997


                                      II-5


<PAGE>



        Name                             Title                        Date
        ----                             -----                        ----


/s/ Bernard M. Goldsmith         Director                        March 31, 1997
---------------------------
    Bernard M. Goldsmith


/s/ John H. Martinson            Director                        March 31, 1997
---------------------------
    John H. Martinson


/s/ Paul Margolis                Director                        March 31, 1997
----------------------------
    Paul Margolis



                                      II-6


<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibits
   No.            Description
--------          ------------

3.1               Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated
                  November 30, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
                  the Company's June 30, 1996 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,
                  filed with the Commission on August 15, 1996).

3.2               By-laws of the Company, as amended (incorporated herein by
                  reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on
                  Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1995, filed with
                  the Commission on November 13, 1995).

4.1               Specimen of Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to
                  Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
                  S-1 filed with the Commission on May 17, 1995).

4.2               The Dendrite International, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase
                  Plan dated April 1, 1997.

5.1               Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to the validity of the
                  Common Stock issued under the Stock Plans.

23.1              Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (contained in Exhibit 5.1
                  attached hereto).

23.2              Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
                  accountants.

24.1              Power of Attorney is included in the signature page of the
                  Registration Statement.
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 18439}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "DENDRITE INTERNATIONAL INC", "cik": "0000880321", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "222786386", "state-of-incorporation": "NJ", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-24329", "film-number": "97572906"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1200 MOUNT KEMBLE AVE", "city": "MORRISTOWN", "state": "NJ", "zip": "07960", "phone": "2014251200"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1200 MOUNT KEMBLE AVE", "city": "MORRISTOWN", "state": "NJ", "zip": "07960-6797"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 1, 1997

                                                    Registration No. 333-_____
===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                               ------------------

                                    FORM S-8

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                    UNDER THE
                             SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                          Dendrite International, Inc.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                   New Jersey
                (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or
                                  Organization)
                                   22-2786386
                     (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

           1200 Mount Kemble Avenue, Morristown, New Jersey 07960-6797
                            Telephone: (201) 425-1200
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                          Dendrite International, Inc.
                        1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                              Christopher J. French
                  Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
                          Dendrite International, Inc.
                            1200 Mount Kemble Avenue
                        Morristown, New Jersey 07960-6797
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                 (201) 425-1200
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===============================================================================
                                        Proposed
                                        Maximum       Proposed
  Title of Each                         Offering       Maximum        Amount
     Class of                            Price        Aggregate         of
 Securities to be      Amount to be       Per         Offering     Registration
    Registered          Registered      Share(1)        Price          Fee
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, no         150,000        9.375          1,406,250      426.14
par value
===============================================================================

(1)  Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(c) based upon the average of the high and low sales
     prices of the Company's Common Stock, as quoted through the NASDAQ National
     Market, on March 25, 1997.

                                       I-1
PART I
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

                                EXPLANATORY NOTE

         As permitted by Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), this registration statement omits the information
specified in Part I of Form S-8. The documents containing the information
specified in Part I will be delivered to the participants in the plan covered by
this registration statement as required by Rule 428(b). Such documents are not
being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as
part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements
pursuant to Rule 424 of such Act.

                                       I-2
PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference

         The following documents filed with the Commission by the registrant,
Dendrite International, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), pursuant
to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are
incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

         1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1996 filed with the Commission on March 31, 1997.

         2. The description of the Company's Common Stock, no par value ("Common
Stock") contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with
the Commission on May 24, 1995.

         3. The description of the Common Stock contained in the Company's
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the
Commission on June 9, 1995.

         4. The description of the Common Stock contained in the Company's
Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the
Commission on June 21, 1995.

         All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a
post-effective amendment which indicates that all shares of Common Stock offered
hereby have been sold or which deregisters all such shares then remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this registration statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or
in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.

Item 4.   Description of Securities

         Not applicable.

Item 5.   Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

         Not applicable.

                                      II-1
Item 6.   Indemnification of Directors and Officers

         Section 14A:3-5 of the New Jersey Business Corporation Act ("NJBCA")
gives the Company power to indemnify each of its directors and officers against
expenses and liabilities in connection with any proceeding involving him by
reason of his being or having been a director or officer if (a) he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the
best interests of the Company and (b) with respect to any criminal proceeding,
he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. However, in a
proceeding by or in the right of the Company, there shall be no indemnification
in respect of any liabilities or expenses if the officer or director shall have
been adjudged liable to the Company unless the court in such proceeding
determines he is entitled to indemnification for such liabilities and/or
expenses. Furthermore, no indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of a
director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to such
director or officer establishes that his acts or omissions (a) were in breach of
his duty of loyalty to the Company and its stockholders, (b) were not in good
faith or involved a knowing violation of law or (c) resulted in receipt by the
director or officer of an improper personal benefit. The NJBCA defines an act or
omission in breach of a person's duty of loyalty as an act or omission which
that person knows or believes to be contrary to the best interests of the
Company or its stockholders in connection with a matter in which he has a
material conflict of interest. If a director or officer is successful in a
proceeding, the statute mandates that the Company indemnify him against
expenses.

         The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as permitted by
New Jersey law, eliminates the personal liability of the directors and officers
to the Company or its shareholders for monetary damages for breaches of such
director's or officer's duty of care or other duties as a director or officer;
except liabilities for any breach of duty based upon an act or omission (a) in
breach of such person's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders,
(b) not in good faith or involving a knowing violation of law or (c) resulting
in receipt by such person of an improper personal benefit. In addition, the
Company's Restated By-laws provide broad indemnification rights to directors and
officers so long as the director or officer acted in a manner believed in good
faith to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the Company and with
respect to criminal proceedings if the director had no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The Company believes that the
protection provided by these provisions will help the Company attract and retain
qualified individuals to serve as officers and directors. These provisions also
will limit the remedies available to a stockholder who is dissatisfied with a
Board decision protected by these provisions, and such stockholder's only remedy
may be to bring a suit to prevent the Board's action.

         The Company maintains a directors' and officers' liability insurance
policy.

Item 7.   Exemption from Registration Claimed

         Not Applicable

                                      II-2
Item 8.   Exhibits

Exhibit
  No.             Description

3.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated November 30,
         1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's July
         30, 1996 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Commission on
         August 15, 1996).

3.2      By-laws of the Company, as amended (incorporated herein by reference to
         Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
         quarter ended September 30, 1995, filed with the Commission on November
         13, 1995).

4.1      Specimen of Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1
         to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the
         Commission on May 17, 1995).

4.2      The Dendrite International, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
         dated April 1, 1997.

5.1      Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to the validity of Common Stock, no
         par value, issued under the Stock Plans.

23.1     Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (contained in Exhibit 5.1 attached
         hereto).

23.2     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants.

24.1     Power of Attorney is included in the signature page of the Registration
         Statement.

Item 9.   Required Undertakings

     (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being 
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include 
     any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
     previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change
     to such information in the Registration Statement;

         (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

         (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

     (b)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the

                                      II-3
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (c)  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-4
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly
authorized, in the Township of Harding, State of New Jersey, on the 31st day of
March, 1997.

                                           DENDRITE INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                           By: /s/ John E. Bailye
                                               John E. Bailye
                                               Chief Executive Officer,
                                               President and Director

         KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below hereby constitutes and appoints John E. Bailye and Charles C.
Warczakowski, and each of them acting individually, as his attorneys-in-fact and
agents, each with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities,
to sign the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Dendrite International, Inc.
and any and all amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933, including
any and all pre-effective or post-effective amendments, and to file the same,
with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully as he
might or could do in person, and hereby ratifies, approves and confirms all that
his said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Pursuant to
the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has
been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates
indicated:

        Name                             Title                        Date
        ----                             -----                        ----

/s/ John E. Bailye               Chief Executive Officer,
---------------------------      President and Director          March 31, 1997
    John E. Bailye

/s/ Charles C. Warczakowski      Vice President, Finance and
---------------------------      Treasurer (Chief Financial
    Charles C. Warczakowski      Officer and Principal
                                 Accounting Officer)             March 31, 1997

                                      II-5
Name                             Title                        Date
        ----                             -----                        ----

/s/ Bernard M. Goldsmith         Director                        March 31, 1997
---------------------------
    Bernard M. Goldsmith

/s/ John H. Martinson            Director                        March 31, 1997
---------------------------
    John H. Martinson

/s/ Paul Margolis                Director                        March 31, 1997
----------------------------
    Paul Margolis

                                      II-6
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibits
   No.            Description
--------          ------------

3.1               Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company dated
                  November 30, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
                  the Company's June 30, 1996 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q,
                  filed with the Commission on August 15, 1996).

3.2               By-laws of the Company, as amended (incorporated herein by
                  reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on
                  Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1995, filed with
                  the Commission on November 13, 1995).

4.1               Specimen of Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference to
                  Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
                  S-1 filed with the Commission on May 17, 1995).

4.2               The Dendrite International, Inc. 1997 Employee Stock Purchase
                  Plan dated April 1, 1997.

5.1               Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell as to the validity of the
                  Common Stock issued under the Stock Plans.

23.1              Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (contained in Exhibit 5.1
                  attached hereto).

23.2              Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public
                  accountants.

24.1              Power of Attorney is included in the signature page of the
                  Registration Statement.