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  <P>&nbsp;</P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION<BR>
  <BR>
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549<BR>
  <BR>
  <B>FORM 8-K</B><BR>
  <BR>
  CURRENT REPORT<BR>
  <BR>
  <BR>
  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934<BR>
  <B><BR>
  <BR>
  </B>Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):<B>  April 3, 2001.</B><BR>
  <BR>
  <BR>
  <BR>
  <B>Rational Software Corporation</B></P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)<BR>
  <BR>
  <BR>
  </P>
  <TABLE COLS=3 WIDTH="100%" >
  <TR>
  <TD>
  <strong>
  <CENTER><u>Delaware</u></CENTER>
  </strong>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <strong>
  <CENTER><u>000-12167</u></CENTER>
  </strong>
  </TD>
  <TD>
  <strong>
  <CENTER><u>54-1217099</u></CENTER>
  </strong>
  </TD>
  </TR>
  <TR>
  <TD>
  
  <CENTER>&nbsp;(State or other jurisdiction <BR>of incorporation)&nbsp;</CENTER>
  
  </TD>
  
  <TD>
  
  <CENTER>(Commission <BR>File Number)</CENTER>
  
  </TD>
  
  <TD>
  
  <CENTER>(I.R.S. Employer <BR> Identification No.)</CENTER>
  
  </TD>
  </TR>
  </TABLE>
  
  
  
  
  
  
  <P ALIGN="CENTER"><BR>
  <BR>
  <B>18880 Homestead Road <BR>
  <u>Cupertino, California 95014</B></u><BR>
  (Address of principal executive offices)</P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER"><u><B>(408) 863-9900</B></u><BR>
  (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)</P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
  <P ALIGN="CENTER">&nbsp;</P>
  <P>&nbsp;</P>
  
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  <P>ITEM 5.&#9;OTHER EVENTS.</P>
  <P>On April 3, 2001, Rational Software Corporation issued the press release filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1, reporting results for
  Rational's fourth quarter, together with a consolidation and workforce restructuring and certain other information.
  </P>
  
  
                                                                                                                                                                                               <P>ITEM 7.&#9;FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS</P>
  
  
  
  <DIR>
  <p>(c) <U>Exhibits</U>.</P>
  
  
  
  
  <DIR>
  <P ALIGN="left"><TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=481>
  <TR><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <P><u>Number</u></TD>
  <TD WIDTH="85%" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <P><u>Description</u></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP">
  <P>99.1</TD>
  <TD WIDTH="85%" VALIGN="TOP">
  <P>Press release dated April 3, 2001.
  </P></DIR>
  </TR>
  
  
  
  
  
  </TABLE>
  </P>
  </DIR>
  </DIR>
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  <P ALIGN="CENTER">SIGNATURE</P>
  <P>Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
  its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.</P>
  <P>&nbsp;</P><DIR>
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                                                                                                                       <DIR>
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  <P>RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION</P>
  <P>&nbsp;</P>
  <U><P>/s/ Timothy Brennan</P>
  </U><P>Timothy Brennan, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary</P>
  <P>Date:April  5 , 2001</P>
  <P>&nbsp;</P></DIR>
  </DIR>
  </DIR>
  </DIR>
  </DIR>
  </DIR>
  </DIR>
  </DIR>
  </DIR>
  </DIR>
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  <DIR>
  <P><U>Exhibit Index.</U></P>
  
  
  
  <P ALIGN="left"><TABLE CELLSPACING=0 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=7 WIDTH=481>
  <TR><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <P><u>Number</u></TD>
  <TD WIDTH="85%" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
  <P><u>Description</u></TD>
  </TR>
  <TR><TD WIDTH="15%" VALIGN="TOP">
  <P>99.1</TD>
  <TD WIDTH="85%" VALIGN="TOP">
  </U><P>Press release dated April 3, 2001.
  </P>
  </TR>
  </TABLE>
  
  </DIR>
  
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORP", "cik": "0000722056", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "541217099", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-12167", "film-number": "1596174"}, "business-address": {"street1": "18880 HOMESTEAD RD", "city": "CUPERTINO", "state": "CA", "zip": "95014", "phone": "4088639900"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "18880 HOMESTEAD RD", "city": "CUPERTINO", "state": "CA", "zip": "95014"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "VERDIX CORP", "date-changed": "19920703"}}
text: 8k DOC
  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
  FORM 8-K
  CURRENT REPORT
  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
  April 3, 2001.
  Rational Software Corporation
  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  Delaware
  000-12167
  54-1217099
  (State or other jurisdiction
  of incorporation)
  (Commission
  File Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
  Identification No.)
  18880 Homestead Road
  Cupertino, California 95014
  (Address of principal executive offices)
  (408) 863-9900
  (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  ITEM 5.	OTHER EVENTS.
  On April 3, 2001, Rational Software Corporation issued the press release filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1, reporting results for
  Rational's fourth quarter, together with a consolidation and workforce restructuring and certain other information.
  ITEM 7.	FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
  (c)
  Exhibits
  .
  Number
  Description
  99.1
  Press release dated April 3, 2001.
  SIGNATURE
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
  its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  RATIONAL SOFTWARE CORPORATION
  /s/ Timothy Brennan
  Timothy Brennan, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
  Date:April  5 , 2001
  Exhibit Index.
  Number
  Description
  99.1
  Press release dated April 3, 2001.