SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13G

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                                   ANSYS INC.
                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  COMMON STOCK
                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    03662Q105
                                 (CUSIP Number)

CUSIP No. 03662Q105                   13G                    Page 1 of 3 Pages
          ---------                                              ---  ---

1) NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

                                            J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO. INCORPORATED
                                                                     13-3043476

2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
                                                                         (a) /x/

                                                                         (b) /_/

3) SEC USE ONLY

4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

                                                                       DELAWARE

 NUMBER OF SHARES     (5) SOLE VOTING POWER                  850,000
BENEFICIALLY OWNED    (6) SHARED VOTING POWER                    -0-
BY EACH REPORTING     (7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER             850,000
 PERSON WITH          (8) SHARES DISPOSITIVE POWER               -0-

9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                                                                        850,000

10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

                                                                          5.26%

12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

                                                                             IA

CUSIP No. 03662Q105                    13G                    Page 2 of 3 Pages
          ---------                                               ---  ---

Item 1(a) Name of Issuer:

          ANSYS INC.

Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:

          201 JOHNSON ROAD
          HOUSTON, PA  195342

Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing:

          J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO. INCORPORATED

Item 2(b) Address or Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:

          100 PARK AVENUE
          NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10017

Item 2(c) Citizenship:

          DELAWARE CORPORATION

Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities:

          COMMON STOCK

Item 2(e) CUSIP Number:

          03662Q105

Item 3    If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13-d, or 13-2(b), check
          whether the person is filing as a:  Investment Adviser registered
          under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940
                                                                             /X/

Item 4(a) Amount Beneficially Owned:

          850,000

Item 4(b) Percent of Class:

          5.26%

Item 4(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:

     (i)      sole power to vote or to direct the vote                  850,000
     (ii)     shares power to vote or direct the vote                       -0-
     (iii)    sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of     850,000
     (iv)     shares power to dispose or to direct the disposition of       -0-

CUSIP No. 03662Q105                    13G                    Page 3 of 3 Pages
          ---------                                               ---  ---

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:

          NOT APPLICABLE

Item 8    Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:

          NOT APPLICABLE

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 in any transaction
          having such purpose or effect.

          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,
          and correct.

          Lawrence P. Vogel
          Senior Vice President, Finance

          FEBRUARY 13, 1997
          Date