SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13G
                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



                                Autodesk, Inc.
  -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)



                             Common Stock, $.01 par value
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)



                                   052769106
                ------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                        

                               Page 1 of 10 Pages

 
- -------------------------
CUSIP NO.
052769106
- ----------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.  Name of Reporting Person
    S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of  Above Person

    Goldman, Sachs & Co.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.  Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

                                                    (a) 
                                                        -----
                                                    (b) 
                                                        -----
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.  SEC Use Only

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.  Citizenship or place of Organization
 
               New York
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of       5.  Sole Voting Power
Shares
Beneficially             0
                    ------------------------
Owned By        6.  Shared Voting Power
Each
Reporting                2,501,307
                    ------------------------
Person With     7.  Sole Dispositive Power

                         0
                    ------------------------                
                8.  Shared Dispositive Power

                         2,501,307
                    ------------------------
9.  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

     2,530,307
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

     5.6%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Type of Reporting Person

        BD-PN-IA
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                               Page 2 of 10 Pages

 
- -------------------------
CUSIP NO.
052769106
- --------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.  Name of Reporting Person
    S.S. or I.R.S. Identification No. of Above Person

    The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.  Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group

                                                    (a) 
                                                        -----
                                                    (b) 
                                                        -----
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.  SEC Use Only

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.  Citizenship or place of Organization
 
Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of       5.  Sole Voting Power
Shares
Beneficially              0
Owned By            ----------------------
Each            6.  Shared Voting Power
Reporting   
Person With               2,501,307
                    ----------------------
                7.  Sole Dispositive Power

                          0
                    ------------------------
               8.   Shared Dispositive Power

                          2,501,307
                    ------------------------
9.   Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

       2,530,307
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.  Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9)

       5.6%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.  Type of Reporting Person

         HC-PN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                               Page 3 of 10 Pages

 
       Item 1(a).  Name of Issuer:
                   Autodesk, Inc.

       Item 1(b).  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
                   111 McInnis Parkway
                   San Rafael, CA  94903

       Item 2(a).  Names of Persons Filing:
                   Goldman, Sachs & Co. and The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.
 
       Item 2(b).  Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence:
                   85 Broad Street
                   New York, NY   10004

       Item 2(c).  Citizenship:
                   Goldman, Sachs & Co. - New York
                   The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. - Delaware
 
       Item 2(d).  Title and Class of Securities:
                   Common Stock, $.01 par value

       Item 2(e).  CUSIP Number:
                   052769106

       Item 3.     If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 
                   13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a :

           (a).X Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act,
                    Goldman, Sachs & Co.

           (b).  Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act,

           (c).  Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act,

           (d).  Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment
                 Company Act,

           (e).X Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the
                 Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
                    Goldman, Sachs & Co.

           (f).  Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is subject to the
                 provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
                 1974 or Endowment Fund; see 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F),

                               Page 4 of 10 Pages

 
           (g).X Parent Holding Company, in accordance with Rule 13d-
                 1(b)(ii)(G); see Item 7,
                    The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.
 
           (h).  Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(H).

      
     Item 4.     Ownership.

           (a).  Amount beneficially owned:
                 See the responses(s) to Item 9 on the attached cover page(s).

           (b).  Percent of class:
                 See the response(s) to Item 11 on the attached cover page(s).

           (c).  Number of shares as to which such person has:

                 (i).   Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                             See the response(s) to Item 5 on the attached cover
                             page(s).

                 (ii).  Shared power to vote or direct the vote:
                             See the response(s) to Item 6 on the attached cover
                             page(s).

                 (iii). Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                             See the response(s) to Item 7 on the attached cover
                             page(s).

                 (iv).  Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
                             See the response(s) to Item 8 on the attached cover
                             page(s).

     Item 5.   Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
                        Not Applicable

     Item 6.   Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
                        Not Applicable

     Item 7.   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
               Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding
               Company.
                        See Exhibit (99.2)

     Item 8.   Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
                        Not Applicable

                               Page 5 of 10 Pages

 
     Item 9.   Notice of Dissolution of Group.
                        Not Applicable

     Item 10.  Certification.

               By signing below I certify that, to the best of my
               knowledge and belief, the securities referred to 
               above were acquired in the ordinary course of 
               business and were not acquired for the purpose of 
               and do not have the effect of changing or influencing 
               the control of the issuer of such securities and were
               not acquired in connection with or as a participant 
               any transaction having such purpose or effect.

 

                               Page 6 of 10 Pages

 
                                   SIGNATURE

               After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my 
               knowledge and belief, I certify that the information 
               set forth in this statement is true, complete and 
               correct.


Date:  February 14, 1997


                                    THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.
                                    By: The Goldman Sachs Corporation,
                                        its general partner


                                    By: /s/ David B. Ford
                                       -------------------------------
                                    Name:   David B. Ford
                                    Title:  Executive Vice President



                                    GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.


                                    By: /s/ David B. Ford
                                       -------------------------------
                                    Name:   David B. Ford
                                    Title:  Managing Director

                               Page 7 of 10 Pages

 
                          INDEX TO EXHIBITS



Exhibit No.    Exhibit
- -----------    -------

  99.1         Joint Filing Agreement, dated February 14, 1997, between The
               Goldman Sachs Group, L.P.  and Goldman, Sachs & Co.

  99.2         Item 7 Information

                               Page 8 of 10 Pages

 
                                                                  EXHIBIT (99.1)



                             JOINT FILING AGREEMENT



     In accordance with Rule 13d-1(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the undersigned agree to the joint filing of a Statement on
Schedule 13G (including any and all amendments thereto) with respect to the
shares of common stock, $.01 par value of Autodesk, Inc., and further agree to
the filing of this agreement as an Exhibit thereto.  In addition, each party to
this Agreement expressly authorizes each other party to this Agreement to file
on its behalf any and all amendments to such Statement on Schedule 13G.



Date:  February 14, 1997


                                            THE GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.
                                            By: The Goldman Sachs Corporation,
                                                its general partner


                                            By: /s/ David B. Ford 
                                               --------------------------------
                                            Name:   David B. Ford
                                            Title:  Executive Vice President



                                            GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                                                                

                                            By: /s/ David B. Ford
                                               ----------------------------
                                            Name:   David B. Ford
                                            Title:  Managing Director

                              Page 9 of 10 Pages


                                                                  EXHIBIT (99.2)



                               ITEM 7 INFORMATION



     Goldman, Sachs & Co. is a broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of
the Act and an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940.


                              Page 10 of 10 Pages