<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-01-21</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001086329</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PIVOTAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PVTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001007393</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JAECH JEREMY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 14TH AVENUE EAST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.08</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2003-08-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>36.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.83</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-11-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.78</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-12-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vested as to 20,000 shares on January 1, 2003.  Remainder vested as to 5,000 shares on June 15, 2003 and vests as to 5,000 shares on each December 15, 2003, July 15, 2004 and December 15, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person previously filed a Form 3, voluntarily reporting the reporting person's holdings, followed by a Form 3/A, which stated that the Company was a &quot;foreign private issuer&quot;, that the Form 3 had been filed in error, and that no further Section 16 filings would be made.  The Company has since determined that it ceased to be a &quot;foreign private issuer&quot; as of January 1, 2003.  As a result of this loss of status, the reporting person became subject to the provisions of Section 16.  This Form 3/A is being filed to report the reporting person's holdings as of January 1, 2003.  On September 30, 2003, the Company regained its status as a &quot;foreign private issuer&quot;.  Accordingly, the reporting person is no longer subject to the provisions of Section 16.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeremy Jaech</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

