-----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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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000853273-06-000001.txt : 20060131
<SEC-HEADER>0000853273-06-000001.hdr.sgml : 20060131
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060131124827
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000853273-06-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060127
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060131
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060131

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEVENS TIMOTHY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001265077

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10824
		FILM NUMBER:		06564919

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BORLAND SOFTWARE CORP
		STREET 2:		100 ENTERPRISE WAY
		CITY:			SCOTTS VALLEY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95066-3299
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2314311000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BORLAND SOFTWARE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000853273
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				942895440
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ENTERPRISE WAY
		CITY:			SCOTTS VALLEY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95066-3249
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8314311000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 ENTERPRISE WAY
		CITY:			SCOTTS VALLEY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95066-3249

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INPRISE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19980813

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BORLAND INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BORLAND INTERNATIONAL DELAWARE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19891011
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000853273</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BORLAND SOFTWARE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>borl</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001265077</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STEVENS TIMOTHY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BORLAND SOFTWARE CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>20450 STEVENS CREEK BLVD.,SUITE 800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CUPERTINO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95014</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP and General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4772</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.52</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85228</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were retained by the company in order to meet the tax withholding obligations of the awardholder in connection with the vesting of an installment of the restricted stock award. The amount retained by the company was not in excess of the amount of the tax liability.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Timothy J. Stevens</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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