-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 K0yyEtJx0rHNiNoDFYQXvArv7dwDjeYbQx8GCC4fxvUUSCCP4SQcER1yECUy6Fdx
 sTtJzXfLliF9xnzkDe6+9A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-019716.txt : 20100722
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-019716.hdr.sgml : 20100722
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100722171306
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-019716
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100722
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100722

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JAMES STEPHAN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001232907

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16393
		FILM NUMBER:		10965402

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ACCENTURE LEGAL & COMMERICAL GROUP
		STREET 2:		23RD FL 161 N CLARK STREET
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60601

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BMC SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000835729
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				742126120
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 CITYWEST BLVD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042-2827
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7139188800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 CITYWEST BLVD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042-2827
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-07-21</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000835729</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BMC SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BMC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232907</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JAMES STEPHAN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2101 CITYWEST BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77042</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-07-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7893</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9248</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Award of restricted stock units under BMC Software, Inc. 1994 Employee Incentive Plan. These restricted stock units shall vest fully after one year provided that if the subsequent annual meeting of stockholders is held prior to the one year anniversary of the 2010 annual meeting and such director is not re-elected, then such award shall vest on date of such meeting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christopher C. Chaffin, Attorney-in-fact for Stephan A. James</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-07-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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