As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 29, 1998
                                               Registration No. 333-___________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                 Washington, D.C. 20549

                                        FORM S-8
                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                        Under The Securities Act of 1933

                               MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                                           77-0188708
(State of other jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                           Identification No.)

                            5615 Scotts Valley Drive
                         Scotts Valley, California 95066
                (Address of Principal Executive Offices,Zip Code)

                        1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                            1997 Incentive Stock Plan
                           (Full title of the plan)


                            Gianluca U. Rattazzi
                      President, Chief Executive Officer
                                and Director

                              Meridian Data, Inc.
                           5615 Scotts Valley Drive
                         Scotts Valley, California 95066
                              (408) 438-3100
(Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                               Copy to:

                         Robert D. Brownell, Esq.
                    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                         Professional Corporation
                            650 Page Mill Road
                           Palo Alto, CA 94304

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Calculation of Registration Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Title of Securities to be          Amount to be    Proposed Maximum Offering      Proposed Maximum      Amount of Registration
            Registered                  Registered         Price Per Share (3)        Aggregate Offering               Fee
                                                                                          Price (4)
------------------------------------ ----------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------
<S>                                  <C>               <C>                          <C>                     <C>
Common Stock ($0.001 par value)         400,000 (1)                         $5.125           $2,050,000.00                  $605.00
Common Stock ($0.001 par value)        100,000 (2)                          $4.356             $435,600.00                  $129.00
Total Registration Fee                                                                                                      $734.00
<FN>
(1) These shares represent  shares of Common Stock which have become  available
    for issuance under the  Registrant's  1997 Incentive Stock Plan as a result
    of an amendment approved by the stockholders at the Registrant's  Annual 
    Meeting of Stockholders held on April 23, 1998 (the  "Annual  Meeting") 
    increasing the number of shares authorized for issuance thereunder from
    900,000 to 1,300,000.

(2) These shares represent shares of Common Stock which have become available
    for issuance under the Registrant's 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
    (the "ESPP") as a result of an amendment  approved by the  stockholders at
    the Registrant's Annual Meeting increasing the number of shares authorized
    for issuance thereunder from 300,000 to 400,000.

(3) Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee on the
    basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as
    reported by the Nasdaq National Market System on May 27, 1998 in accordance
    with Rule 457(h)(1) and (c)of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
    "Act").  With respect to the 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the 
    computation is based upon 85% of the average of the high and low prices of
    the Common Stock because the purchase price of a share of Common Stock under
    the ESPP is equal to 85% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock
    on the Enrollment Date or the Exercise Date, whichever is lower.

(4) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Act.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
  Statement Under General Instruction E Registration of Additional Securities.

     Unless as noted herein, the contents of the Registration Statements on Form
     S-8 with respect to the 1997 Incentive Stock Plan (File Nos.333-27531  and
     333-30107)and the 1992 Employee  Stock Purchase Plan (File Nos.33-62084,
     333-27533 and 333-30107) are hereby incorporated by reference into this
     Registration Statement.

                                  PART II
  
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     Item 8.  Exhibits.
 
     Exhibit
     Number               Description
     -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------
     5.1                  Opinion of Counsel as to legality of securities 
                               being registered.
     
     23.1                 Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent
                               Accountants.
     
     23.2                 Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
     
     24.1                 Power of Attorney (see page 5).
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  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,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Scotts Valley, State of California, on this 29th day
of May 1998.


                                                 MERIDIAN DATA, INC.


                                   By: /s/ Gianluca U. Rattazzi
                                           GIANLUCA U. RATTAZZI
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>

                             POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person whose signature
     appears  below  constitutes  and appoints  Gianluca U. Rattazzi and Erik E.
     Miller jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
     substitution,  for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to
     this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with exhibits
     thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the Securities
     and Exchange  Commission,  hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of
     said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may 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.
 
         Signatures                      Title                        Date
     ------------------------      --------------------         ----------------
     /s/ Charlie Bass              Chairman of the Board          May 29, 1998
         CHARLIE BASS                   of Directors 

     /s/ Gianluca U. Rattazzi      President, Chief Executive     May 29, 1998
         GIANLUCA U. RATTAZZI       Officer and Director 
  
     /s/ Erik E. Miller            Senior Vice President,         May 29, 1998
         ERIK E. MILLER            Finance and Chief Financial                
                                   Officer (Principal Financial 
                                   and Accounting Officer)
  
     /s/ Peter R. Johnson           Director                      May 29, 1998
         PETER R. JOHNSON
   
     /s/ Mario M. Rosati            Director                      May 29, 1998
         MARIO M. ROSATI
   
     /s/ Pierluigi Zappacosta       Director                      May 29, 1998
         PIERLUIGI ZAPPACOSTA
 <PAGE>
                                Index to Exhibits
           
     Exhibit Number         Description of Document                         Page
     --------------         -----------------------                         ----
     5.1                    Opinion of Counsel as to legality of 
                            securities being registered.                     E-2

     23.1                   Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP,                 E-3
                            Independent Accountants.                         

     23.2                   Consent of Counsel                               E-2
                            (contained in Exhibit 5.1).                      

     24.1                   Power of Attorney (see page 5).                    5
<PAGE>
                                                                             E-3

                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                                                                    May 27, 1998

         Meridian Data, Inc.
         5615 Scotts Valley Drive
         Scotts Valley, California 95066

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

     Ladies and Gentlemen:

          We  have  examined  the  Registration   Statement  on  Form  S-8  (the
     "Registration  Statement") to be filed by Meridian  Data,  Inc., a Delaware
     corporation (the  "Registrant" or "you"),  with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission on or about May 27, 1998, in  connection  with the  registration
     under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  of shares of your Common
     Stock, no par value (the "Shares"),  reserved for issuance  pursuant to the
     1997  Incentive  Stock Plan (as to 400,000  shares)  and the 1992  Employee
     Stock Purchase Plan (as to 100,000 shares) (collectively,  the "Plans"). As
     your legal counsel in connection  with this  transaction,  we have reviewed
     the  proceedings  taken by you in connection  with the issuance and sale of
     the Shares  pursuant to the Plans.  It is our opinion that, when issued and
     sold in the manner  described in the Plans and  pursuant to the  agreements
     that accompany  each grant under the Plans,  the Shares will be legally and
     validly  issued,  fully-paid and  non-assessable.  We consent to the use of
     this  opinion as an  exhibit to the  Registration  Statement,  and  further
     consent  to the use of our  name  wherever  appearing  in the  Registration
     Statement and any subsequent amendment thereto.

                                               Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                                               WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                                     Professional Corporation

<PAGE>
                                                                             E-3

                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

          We  hereby  consent  to  the   incorporation   by  reference  in  this
     Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 of our report  dated  January 30, 1998
     appearing in the Annual Report of Meridian Data,  Inc. on Form 10-K for the
     year ended  December 31,  1997.  We also  consent to the  incorporation  by
     reference of our report on the Financial Statement Schedule,  which appears
     in such Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 /s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
     PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
     San Jose, California
     May 27, 1998
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "97 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN/92 EMPLOYEE STOCK PUR PLAN", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12176}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "MERIDIAN DATA INC", "cik": "0000864568", "assigned-sic": "3576", "irs-number": "770188708", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-53945", "film-number": "98634482"}, "business-address": {"street1": "5615 SCOTTS VALLEY DR", "street2": "SUITE 200", "city": "SCOTTS VALLEY", "state": "CA", "zip": "95066", "phone": "4159600288"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "5615 SCOTTS VALLEY DR", "city": "SCOTTS V", "state": "CA", "zip": "95066"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "PARALLAN COMPUTER INC", "date-changed": "19940613"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 29, 1998
                                               Registration No. 333-___________

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                                 Washington, D.C. 20549

                                        FORM S-8
                                REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                        Under The Securities Act of 1933

                               MERIDIAN DATA, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

         Delaware                                           77-0188708
(State of other jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)                           Identification No.)

                            5615 Scotts Valley Drive
                         Scotts Valley, California 95066
                (Address of Principal Executive Offices,Zip Code)

                        1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
                            1997 Incentive Stock Plan
                           (Full title of the plan)

                            Gianluca U. Rattazzi
                      President, Chief Executive Officer
                                and Director

                              Meridian Data, Inc.
                           5615 Scotts Valley Drive
                         Scotts Valley, California 95066
                              (408) 438-3100
(Name, address, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                               Copy to:

                         Robert D. Brownell, Esq.
                    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                         Professional Corporation
                            650 Page Mill Road
                           Palo Alto, CA 94304
Calculation of Registration Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Title of Securities to be          Amount to be    Proposed Maximum Offering      Proposed Maximum      Amount of Registration
            Registered                  Registered         Price Per Share (3)        Aggregate Offering               Fee
                                                                                          Price (4)
------------------------------------ ----------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------- ------------------------
Common Stock ($0.001 par value)         400,000 (1)                         $5.125           $2,050,000.00                  $605.00
Common Stock ($0.001 par value)        100,000 (2)                          $4.356             $435,600.00                  $129.00
Total Registration Fee                                                                                                      $734.00
(1) These shares represent  shares of Common Stock which have become  available
    for issuance under the  Registrant's  1997 Incentive Stock Plan as a result
    of an amendment approved by the stockholders at the Registrant's  Annual 
    Meeting of Stockholders held on April 23, 1998 (the  "Annual  Meeting") 
    increasing the number of shares authorized for issuance thereunder from
    900,000 to 1,300,000.

(2) These shares represent shares of Common Stock which have become available
    for issuance under the Registrant's 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 
    (the "ESPP") as a result of an amendment  approved by the  stockholders at
    the Registrant's Annual Meeting increasing the number of shares authorized
    for issuance thereunder from 300,000 to 400,000.

(3) Calculated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee on the
    basis of the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as
    reported by the Nasdaq National Market System on May 27, 1998 in accordance
    with Rule 457(h)(1) and (c)of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
    "Act").  With respect to the 1992 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the 
    computation is based upon 85% of the average of the high and low prices of
    the Common Stock because the purchase price of a share of Common Stock under
    the ESPP is equal to 85% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock
    on the Enrollment Date or the Exercise Date, whichever is lower.

(4) Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Act.
Statement Under General Instruction E Registration of Additional Securities.

     Unless as noted herein, the contents of the Registration Statements on Form
     S-8 with respect to the 1997 Incentive Stock Plan (File Nos.333-27531  and
     333-30107)and the 1992 Employee  Stock Purchase Plan (File Nos.33-62084,
     333-27533 and 333-30107) are hereby incorporated by reference into this
     Registration Statement.

                                  PART II
  
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     Item 8.  Exhibits.
 
     Exhibit
     Number               Description
     -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------
     5.1                  Opinion of Counsel as to legality of securities 
                               being registered.
     
     23.1                 Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP, Independent
                               Accountants.
     
     23.2                 Consent of Counsel (contained in Exhibit 5.1).
     
     24.1                 Power of Attorney (see page 5).
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  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,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Scotts Valley, State of California, on this 29th day
of May 1998.

                                                 MERIDIAN DATA, INC.

                                   By: /s/ Gianluca U. Rattazzi
                                           GIANLUCA U. RATTAZZI
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY

          KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE  PRESENTS,  that each person whose signature
     appears  below  constitutes  and appoints  Gianluca U. Rattazzi and Erik E.
     Miller jointly and severally, his attorneys-in-fact, each with the power of
     substitution,  for him in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to
     this Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with exhibits
     thereto and other  documents in connection  therewith,  with the Securities
     and Exchange  Commission,  hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of
     said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may 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.
 
         Signatures                      Title                        Date
     ------------------------      --------------------         ----------------
     /s/ Charlie Bass              Chairman of the Board          May 29, 1998
         CHARLIE BASS                   of Directors 

     /s/ Gianluca U. Rattazzi      President, Chief Executive     May 29, 1998
         GIANLUCA U. RATTAZZI       Officer and Director 
  
     /s/ Erik E. Miller            Senior Vice President,         May 29, 1998
         ERIK E. MILLER            Finance and Chief Financial                
                                   Officer (Principal Financial 
                                   and Accounting Officer)
  
     /s/ Peter R. Johnson           Director                      May 29, 1998
         PETER R. JOHNSON
   
     /s/ Mario M. Rosati            Director                      May 29, 1998
         MARIO M. ROSATI
   
     /s/ Pierluigi Zappacosta       Director                      May 29, 1998
         PIERLUIGI ZAPPACOSTA
Index to Exhibits
           
     Exhibit Number         Description of Document                         Page
     --------------         -----------------------                         ----
     5.1                    Opinion of Counsel as to legality of 
                            securities being registered.                     E-2

     23.1                   Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP,                 E-3
                            Independent Accountants.                         

     23.2                   Consent of Counsel                               E-2
                            (contained in Exhibit 5.1).                      

     24.1                   Power of Attorney (see page 5).                    5
E-3

                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                                                                    May 27, 1998

         Meridian Data, Inc.
         5615 Scotts Valley Drive
         Scotts Valley, California 95066

         Re:      Registration Statement on Form S-8

     Ladies and Gentlemen:

          We  have  examined  the  Registration   Statement  on  Form  S-8  (the
     "Registration  Statement") to be filed by Meridian  Data,  Inc., a Delaware
     corporation (the  "Registrant" or "you"),  with the Securities and Exchange
     Commission on or about May 27, 1998, in  connection  with the  registration
     under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  of shares of your Common
     Stock, no par value (the "Shares"),  reserved for issuance  pursuant to the
     1997  Incentive  Stock Plan (as to 400,000  shares)  and the 1992  Employee
     Stock Purchase Plan (as to 100,000 shares) (collectively,  the "Plans"). As
     your legal counsel in connection  with this  transaction,  we have reviewed
     the  proceedings  taken by you in connection  with the issuance and sale of
     the Shares  pursuant to the Plans.  It is our opinion that, when issued and
     sold in the manner  described in the Plans and  pursuant to the  agreements
     that accompany  each grant under the Plans,  the Shares will be legally and
     validly  issued,  fully-paid and  non-assessable.  We consent to the use of
     this  opinion as an  exhibit to the  Registration  Statement,  and  further
     consent  to the use of our  name  wherever  appearing  in the  Registration
     Statement and any subsequent amendment thereto.

                                               Very truly yours,

                                           /s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
                                               WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                                     Professional Corporation
E-3

                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

          We  hereby  consent  to  the   incorporation   by  reference  in  this
     Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 of our report  dated  January 30, 1998
     appearing in the Annual Report of Meridian Data,  Inc. on Form 10-K for the
     year ended  December 31,  1997.  We also  consent to the  incorporation  by
     reference of our report on the Financial Statement Schedule,  which appears
     in such Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 /s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
     PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
     San Jose, California
     May 27, 1998