-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 8aZ7VYfpffmBRbObEBHFoQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001106533-06-000003.txt : 20061218
<SEC-HEADER>0001106533-06-000003.hdr.sgml : 20061218
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20061218180204
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001106533-06-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20061218
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20061218

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TIBCO SOFTWARE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001085280
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				770449727
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3303 HILLVIEW AVENUE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6508461000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3303 HILLVIEW AVENUE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RANADIVE VIVEK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001106533

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26579
		FILM NUMBER:		061284538

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3165 PORTER DRIVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-846-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3303 HILLVIEW AVE
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RANADIVE VIYEK
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000211
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-08-11</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2006-08-15</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001085280</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TIBCO SOFTWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TIBX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001106533</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RANADIVE VIVEK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3303 HILLVIEW AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO &amp; Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33333</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>531070</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The number of securities beneficially owned following the reported transaction now reflects the correct number of beneficially owned securities.  The previously reported number included 2,739 shares that were transferred in March 2006 pursuant to a divorce settlement.  The adjustment should have also been reflected on the Form 4 filed by the reporting person on August 17, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Laura Malinasky, attorney-in-fact for Vivek Ranadive</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-12-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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