<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001269847-05-000006
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20050309
<FILING-DATE>20050310
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050310
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS INC
<CIK>0000935036
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7372
<IRS-NUMBER>470772104
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>224 SOUTH 108TH AVE
<CITY>OMAHA
<STATE>NE
<ZIP>68154
<PHONE>4023907600
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>224 SOUTH 108TH
<CITY>OMAHA
<STATE>NE
<ZIP>68154
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>HEASLEY PHILIP G
<CIK>0001078558
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-25346
<FILM-NUMBER>05672116
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>CHICAGO TITLE CORP
<STREET2>171 N CLARK ST
<CITY>CHICAGO
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60601
<PHONE>3122232367
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>CHICAGO TITLE CORP
<STREET2>171 N CLARK ST
<CITY>CHICAGO
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>80601
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000935036</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSAI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001078558</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEASLEY PHILIP G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>224 S. 108 AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OMAHA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>68154</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Director, CEO and President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>600000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>600000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>600000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.65</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-03-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>400000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options are granted pursuant to the Transaction Systems Architects 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan.  This option vests 25% per year beginning with the first anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options are granted pursuant to the Transaction Systems Architects 2005 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan.  This option will vest, if at all, upon the attainment by the company, at any time following March 9, 2007, of a market price per share of the company's common stock of at least $50 per share for 60 consecutive trading days.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Victoria Finley, Attorney in Fact  For: Philip G. Heasley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
