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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000820738</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RAINING DATA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RDTA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000889926</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ASTORIA CAPITAL PARTNERS L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6600 S.W. NINETY SECOND AVE., SUITE 370</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97223</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>5% Convertible Subordinated Note due 2008</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionTotalValue>
                    <value>288871.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionTotalValue>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>288871.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-28</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-05-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>57774</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>23462034.00</value>
                </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Purchase Warrant</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.29</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-11-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-11-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Receipt of additional notes as interest payment on notes held.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the issuance of additional notes at the option of the issuer as payment in kind for interest payments due April 1, 2004.  Issuer may, at its option, make future quarterly interest payments by issuing additional notes.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The exercise price of this warrant was previously reported as $6.51 per share, but was adjusted pursuant to the warrant's anti-dilution provisions.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Astoria Capital Partners L.P., By: /s/ Richard W. Koe Its: General Partner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

