-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-026989.txt : 20101104
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-026989.hdr.sgml : 20101104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101104171028
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-026989
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLOLERY DENISE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001345448

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16393
		FILM NUMBER:		101165793

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2101 CITYWEST BLVD
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77042

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>2010-11-03</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001345448</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CLOLERY DENISE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2101 CITYWEST BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77042</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP, Gen Counsel &amp; Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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    <derivativeTable>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>20.305</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
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            </transactionCoding>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>4688</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-11-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4688</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-11-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4688</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4687</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-11-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4687</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>0</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on August 2, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Award of employee stock option under BMC Software 1994 Employee Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option becomes exercisable in 6.25% quarterly installments over a four year period following the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christopher C. Chaffin, Attorney-in-Fact for Denise M. Clolery</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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