<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-04-021029
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040416
<FILING-DATE>20040416
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>GARVEY WILLIAM P
<CIK>0001278563
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-24607
<FILM-NUMBER>04738160
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O ACTUATE CORP
<STREET2>701 GATEWAY BLVD
<CITY>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94080
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ACTUATE CORP
<CIK>0001062478
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7372
<IRS-NUMBER>943193197
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>701 GATEWAY BLVD
<STREET2>SUITE
<CITY>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94080
<PHONE>6504252300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>701 GATEWAY BLVD
<STREET2>SUITE
<CITY>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94080
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ACTUATE SOFTWARE CORP
<DATE-CHANGED>19980527
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd39740.xml
<DESCRIPTION>GARVEY FORM 3
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-16</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001062478</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACTUATE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACTU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001278563</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GARVEY WILLIAM P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ACTUATE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>701 GATEWAY BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94080</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52195</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.44</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-10-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-10-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-09-09</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-09-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-05-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-05-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-10-29</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-10-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.73</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option became fully exercisable on October 14, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option became fully exercisable on September 9, 2003</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The option is exercisable as to 25% of the shares on the first anniversary of the date of the grant and for the balance in a series of equal monthly installments over the following 36 months.  The first anniversary date is stated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The option is exercisable as to 25% of the shares on the first anniversary of the date of the grant and for the balance in a series of equal monthly installments over the following 36 months.  The first anniversary date is stated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This option will become exercisable as to 25% of the shares on February 19, 2005, with the balance becoming exercisable equally over the following 36 months.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ William Garvey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
