-----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,
 Mo2xBEYGq7/T7jxTgl80utcrJ2+p8Mxf87Su09HOWBkk/mabZI5q2CctEbu8n0Pc
 eVdpiNbfIBgXxQtcY6TPgg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228191-03-000001.txt : 20030930
<SEC-HEADER>0001228191-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030930
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030930183857
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228191-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030930

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARRELL STEWART
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228191

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-23666
		FILM NUMBER:		03918691

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O TRIPOS INC
		STREET 2:		1699 SOUTH HANLEY ROAD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63144

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRIPOS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000920691
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				431454986
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			UT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1699 SOUTH HANLEY RD
		STREET 2:		STE 303
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63144
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3146471099

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1699 SOUTH HANLEY RD
		STREET 2:		STE 303
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63144
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000920691</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRIPOS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TRPS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228191</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARRELL STEWART</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TRIPOS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1699 SOUTH HANLEY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST LOUIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63144</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Tripos Inc Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>147</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.47</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>115112</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Quarterly compensation for membership on Board of Directors.  One half is paid in cash and one half in Tripos Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John D. Yingling, Power of Attorney for Stewart Carrell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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