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                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

                            FORM OF SERIES A WARRANT

VOID AFTER 5:00 P.M. CENTRAL STANDARD TIME ON FEBRUARY   , 2006
                                                       --

                                                                   NO.  ______

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF
THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD
OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, OR UNLESS OFFERED, SOLD OR
TRANSFERRED PURSUANT TO AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THOSE LAWS.

                                          Right to Purchase _________ Shares of
                                        Common Stock, par value $.001 per share

Date: February __, 2001


                               THE VIALINK COMPANY
                                SERIES A WARRANT

         THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received, ______________________________
(the "Initial Holder," and together with any transferees as permitted under this
Series A Warrant (this "Warrant"), the "Holder"), or its registered assigns, is
entitled to purchase from THE VIALINK COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), at any time or from time to time during the period specified in
Section 2 hereof, _______________________ fully paid and nonassessable shares of
the Company's common stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Stock"), at
an initial exercise price of $3.75 per share (the "Exercise Price"). This
Warrant is being issued pursuant to that certain Securities Purchase Agreement
dated February 2, 2001 between the Company and the Initial Holder (the
"Securities Purchase Agreement"). The number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of the Warrants hereunder (the "Warrant Shares") and the
Exercise Price are subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4 hereof. The
term "Warrants" means this Warrant and the other warrants of the Company issued
pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement.

         The term "Closing Bid Price" means, for any security as of any date,
the closing bid price of such security on the principal securities exchange or
trading market where such security is listed or traded as reported by Bloomberg
Financial Markets or a comparable reporting service of national reputation
reasonably selected by the Company if Bloomberg Financial Markets is not then
reporting closing bid prices of such security (collectively, "Bloomberg"), or if
the foregoing does not apply, the last reported sale price of such security in
the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board of such security as
reported by Bloomberg, or, if no sale price is reported for such security by
Bloomberg, the average of the bid prices of any market makers for such security
as reported in the "pink sheets" by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. If the
Closing Bid Price cannot be calculated for such security on such date on any of
the foregoing


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bases, the Closing Bid Price of such security on such date shall be the fair
market value as reasonably determined by an independent investment banking firm
reasonably selected by the Company with the costs of such appraisal to be borne
by the Company.

         This Warrant is subject to the following terms, provisions, and
conditions:

         1. Mechanics of Exercise. Subject to the provisions hereof, including,
without limitation, the limitations contained in Section 8(f) hereof, this
Warrant may be exercised as follows:

              (a) Manner of Exercise. This Warrant may be exercised by the
Holder, in whole or in part, by the surrender of this Warrant (or evidence of
loss, theft, destruction or mutilation thereof in accordance with Section 8(c)
hereof), together with a completed exercise agreement in the Form of Exercise
Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 1 (the "Exercise Agreement"), to the
Company at the Company's principal executive offices (or such other office or
agency of the Company as it may reasonably designate by notice to the Holder),
and upon (i) payment to the Company in cash, by certified or official bank check
or by wire transfer for the account of the Company, of the Exercise Price for
the Warrant Shares specified in the Exercise Agreement or (ii) if the Holder
elects to effect a Cashless Exercise (as defined in Section 12(c) below),
delivery to the Company of a written notice of an election to effect a Cashless
Exercise for the Warrant Shares specified in the Exercise Agreement.
Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing which may be to the contrary, the
exercise shall become effective and the Warrant Shares so purchased shall be
deemed to be issued to the Holder or Holder's designees, as the record owner of
such shares, as of the date on which the completed Exercise Agreement is
delivered to the Company, so long as this Warrant and payment of Exercise Price
or notice of Cashless Exercise is delivered to the Company within three (3)
business days after such date.

              (b) Issuance of Certificates. Subject to Section 1(c),
certificates for the Warrant Shares so purchased, representing the aggregate
number of shares specified in the Exercise Agreement, shall be delivered to the
Holder within a reasonable time, not exceeding three (3) business days, after
this Warrant shall have been so exercised (the "Delivery Period"). The
certificates so delivered shall be in such denominations as may be requested by
the Holder and shall be registered in the name of Holder or such other name as
shall be designated by such Holder; provided, however, if any certificate for
Warrant Shares is to be issued in a name other than that in which the Warrant
surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of the
issuance thereof that the Warrant so surrendered is properly endorsed and
otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such
exchange will pay to the Company any transfer or other taxes required by reason
of the issuance of a certificate for shares of the Company's Common Stock in any
name other than that of the registered Holder of the Warrant surrendered, or
establish to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid or is
not payable. If this Warrant shall have been exercised only in part, then,
unless this Warrant has expired, the Company shall, at its expense, at the time
of delivery of such certificates, deliver to the Holder a new Warrant
representing the number of shares with respect to which this Warrant shall not
then have been exercised. In lieu of delivering physical certificates
representing the Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant, upon
request of the Holder, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts
to cause its transfer agent to electronically transmit the Common Stock issuable
upon exercise to the Holder



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by crediting the account of the Holder's prime broker with DTC through its
Deposit Withdrawal Agent Commission ("DWAC") system or other electronic delivery
system selected by the Holder.

              (c) Exercise Disputes. In the case of any dispute with respect to
an exercise, the Company shall promptly issue such number of shares of Common
Stock as are not disputed in accordance with Section 1(b) hereof. If such
dispute involves the calculation of the Exercise Price, the Company shall submit
the disputed calculations to a nationally recognized independent accounting firm
(selected by the Company and reasonably acceptable to Holder) via facsimile
within two (2) business days of receipt of the Exercise Agreement. The
accounting firm shall audit the calculations and notify the Company and the
converting Holder of the results no later than two (2) business days from the
date it receives the disputed calculations. The accounting firm's calculation
shall be deemed conclusive, absent manifest error. The Company shall then issue
the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 1(b)
hereof.

              (d) Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock are to
be issued upon the exercise of this Warrant, but the Company shall pay a cash
adjustment in respect of any fractional share which would otherwise be issuable
in an amount equal to the same fraction of the Market Price of a share of Common
Stock (as determined for exercise of this Warrant into whole shares of Common
Stock); provided that in the event that sufficient funds are not legally
available for the payment of such cash adjustment, any fractional shares of
Common Stock issuable shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

         2. Period of Exercise. This Warrant is exercisable at any time or from
time to time on or after the date hereof (as defined in the Securities Purchase
Agreement) and before 5:00 P.M., Central Standard Time on the fifth (5th)
anniversary of the date hereof (the "Exercise Period").

         3. Certain Agreements of the Company. The Company hereby covenants and
agrees as follows:

              (a) Shares to be Fully Paid. All Warrant Shares will, upon
issuance in accordance with the terms of this Warrant, be validly issued, fully
paid, and non-assessable and free from all taxes, liens, claims and
encumbrances.

              (b) Reservation of Shares. During the Exercise Period, the Company
shall at all times have authorized, and reserved for the purpose of issuance
upon exercise of this Warrant, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to
provide for the exercise of this Warrant, without limitation of the Company's
obligation to have authorized and reserved shares of Common Stock to provide for
conversion of shares of Series A Preferred Stock of the Company.

              (c) Listing. The Company shall promptly secure the listing of the
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant upon the Nasdaq
National Market, the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the
American Stock Exchange as required by Section 4.8 of the Securities Purchase
Agreement and upon each national securities exchange or automated quotation
system, if any, upon which shares of Common Stock are then




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 listed or become
listed and shall maintain, such listing of all shares of Common Stock from time
to time issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant.

              (d) Certain Actions Prohibited. The Company will not, by amendment
of its charter or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation,
merger, dissolution, issuance or sale of securities, or any other voluntary
action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms
to be observed or performed by it hereunder, but will at all times in good faith
assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Warrant and in the
taking of all such actions as may reasonably be requested by the Holder of this
Warrant in order to protect the exercise privilege of the Holder of this
Warrant, consistent with the tenor and purpose of this Warrant. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) will not increase the par value
of any shares of Common Stock receivable upon the exercise of this Warrant above
the Exercise Price then in effect, and (ii) will take all such actions as may be
necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of this
Warrant.

         4. Antidilution Provisions. During the Exercise Period, the Exercise
Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this
Section 4. In the event that any adjustment of the Exercise Price as required
herein results in a fraction of a cent, such Exercise Price shall be rounded up
or down to the nearest cent.

              (a) Adjustment of Exercise Price.

         (i) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 4(a), Section 4(c) and
4(e) hereof, if and whenever after the initial issuance of this Warrant, the
Company issues or sells, or in accordance with Section 4(b) hereof is deemed to
have issued or sold, any shares of Common Stock for no consideration or for a
consideration per share less than the then current Exercise Price on the date of
issuance (each, a "Dilutive Issuance"), then effective immediately upon such
Dilutive Issuance, the Exercise Price will be adjusted (lower only) in
accordance with the following formula:

              E' = (E) [(O + P/E) / (CSDO)],

              where:

              E'   =     the adjusted Exercise Price

              E    =     the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the
                         Dilutive Issuance;

              O    =     the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
                         immediately prior to the Dilutive Issuance;

              P    =     the aggregate consideration, calculated as set forth
                         in Section 4(b) hereof, received by the Company upon
                         such Dilutive Issuance; and

              CSDO =     the total number of shares of Common Stock Deemed
                         Outstanding (as herein defined) immediately after the
                         Dilutive Issuance.

              (b) Effect on Exercise Price of Certain Events. For purposes of
determining the adjusted Exercise Price under Section 4(a) hereof, the following
will be applicable:



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                  (i) Issuance of Rights or Options. If the Company in any
manner issues or grants any warrants, rights or options, whether or not
immediately exercisable, to subscribe for or to purchase Common Stock or other
securities exercisable, convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock
("Convertible Securities"), but not to include the grant or exercise of any
stock or options which may hereafter be granted or exercised under any of the
Company's stock option plans or employee stock purchase plan Company now
existing or to be implemented in the future, so long as the issuance of such
stock or options is approved by a majority of the independent members of the
Board of Directors of the Company or a majority of the members of a committee of
independent directors established for such purpose (such warrants, rights and
options to purchase Common Stock or Convertible Securities are hereinafter
referred to as "Options"), and the price per share for which Common Stock is
issuable upon the exercise of such Options is less than the Exercise Price on
the date of issuance ("Below Market Options"), then the maximum total number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of all such Below Market
Options (assuming full exercise, conversion or exchange of Convertible
Securities, if applicable) will, as of the date of the issuance or grant of such
Below Market Options, be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and
sold by the Company for such price per share. For purposes of the preceding
sentence, the price per share for which Common Stock is issuable upon the
exercise of such Below Market Options is determined by dividing (i) the total
amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the
issuance or granting of such Below Market Options, plus the minimum aggregate
amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the Company upon the
exercise of all such Below Market Options, plus, in the case of Convertible
Securities issuable upon the exercise of such Below Market Options, the minimum
aggregate amount of additional consideration payable upon the exercise,
conversion or exchange thereof at the time such Convertible Securities first
become exercisable, convertible or exchangeable, by (ii) the maximum total
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of all such Below
Market Options (assuming full conversion of Convertible Securities, if
applicable). Except as contemplated hereinbelow, no further adjustment to the
Exercise Price will be made upon the actual issuance of such Common Stock upon
the exercise of such Below Market Options or upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of Convertible Securities issuable upon exercise of such Below Market
Options.

                  (ii) Issuance of Convertible Securities.

                      (A) If the Company in any manner issues or sells any
Convertible Securities, whether or not immediately convertible (other than where
the same are issuable upon the exercise of Options) and the price per share for
which Common Stock is issuable upon such exercise, conversion or exchange (as
determined pursuant to Section 4(b)(ii)(B) if applicable) is less than the
Exercise Price on the date of issuance, then the maximum total number of shares
of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of all such
Convertible Securities will, as of the date of the issuance of such Convertible
Securities, be deemed to be outstanding and to have been issued and sold by the
Company for such price per share. For the purposes of the preceding sentence
(but subject to Section 4(b)(ii)(B) below), the price per share for which Common
Stock is issuable upon such exercise, conversion or exchange is determined by
dividing (i) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as
consideration for the issuance or sale of all such Convertible Securities, plus
the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the
Company upon the exercise, conversion or exchange thereof at the time such
Convertible Securities first become exercisable, convertible or exchangeable, by
(ii) the maximum total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise, conversion or exchange of all such Convertible



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Securities. Except as contemplated hereinbelow, no further adjustment to the
Exercise Price will be made upon the actual issuances of such Common Stock upon
exercise, conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.

                      (B) If the Company in any manner issues or sells any
Convertible Securities with a conversion or exercise price or exchange ratio
which fluctuates on a daily basis (a "Floating Rate Convertible Security"), then
the price per share for which Common Stock is issuable upon such exercise,
conversion or exchange for purposes of the calculation contemplated by Section
4(b)(ii)(A) shall be deemed to be the greater of (A) the lowest of (x) fifty
percent (50%) of the Closing Bid Price on the date of the such issuance; (y) the
initial conversion or exercise price of such Floating Rate Convertible Security
on the date of such issuance, assuming it is convertible or exercisable on the
date of such issuance; and (z) eighty five percent (85%) of the Exercise Price
on the date of such issuance, and (B) any minimum conversion or exercise price
which is applicable to such Floating Rate Convertible Security in all events
(i.e., a Floor).

                  (iii) Change in Option Price or Conversion Rate. Subject to
Section 4(b)(ii)(B) and except for the grant or exercise of any stock or options
which may hereafter be granted or exercised under any of the Company's stock
option plans or employee stock purchase plan now existing or to be implemented
in the future provided the issuance of such stock or options is approved by a
majority of the independent members of the Board of Directors of the Company or
a majority of the members of a committee of independent directors established
for such purpose, if there is a change at any time in (i) the amount of
additional consideration payable to the Company upon the exercise of any
Options; (ii) the amount of additional consideration, if any, payable to the
Company upon the exercise, conversion or exchange or any Convertible Securities;
or (iii) the rate at which any Convertible Securities are convertible into or
exchangeable for Common Stock (other than under or by reason of provisions
designed to protect against dilution), the Exercise Price in effect at the time
of such change will be readjusted to the Exercise Price which would have been in
effect at such time had such Options or Convertible Securities still outstanding
provided for such changed additional consideration or changed conversion rate,
as the case may be, at the time initially granted, issued or sold.

                  (iv) Treatment of Expired Options and Unexercised Convertible
Securities. If, in any case, the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of any Options or upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any
Convertible Securities is not, in fact, issued and the rights to exercise such
Option or to exercise, convert or exchange such Convertible Securities shall
have expired or terminated, the Exercise Price then in effect will be readjusted
to the Exercise Price which would have been in effect at the time of such
expiration or termination had such Options or Convertible Securities, to the
extent outstanding immediately prior to such expiration or termination (other
than in respect of the actual number of shares of Common Stock issued upon
exercise or conversion thereof), never been issued.

                  (v) Calculation of Consideration Received. If any Common
Stock, Options or Convertible Securities are issued, granted or sold for cash,
the consideration received



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therefor for purposes of this Warrant will be the amount received by the Company
therefor, before deduction of reasonable commissions, underwriting discounts or
allowances or other reasonable expenses paid or incurred by the Company in
connection with such issuance, grant or sale. In case any Common Stock, Options
or Convertible Securities are issued or sold for a consideration part or all of
which shall be other than cash, the amount of the consideration other than cash
received by the Company will be the fair market value of such consideration
except where such consideration consists of freely-tradable securities, in which
case the amount of consideration received by the Company will be the Market
Price thereof as of the date of receipt. In case any Common Stock, Options or
Convertible Securities are issued in connection with any merger or consolidation
in which the Company is the surviving corporation (or parent thereof), the
amount of consideration therefor will be deemed to be the fair market value of
such portion of the net assets and business of the non-surviving corporation as
is attributable to such Common Stock, Options or Convertible Securities, as the
case may be. The fair market value of any consideration other than cash or
securities will be determined in the good faith reasonable business judgment of
the Board of Directors.

                  (vi) Exceptions to Adjustment of Exercise Price. No adjustment
to the Exercise Price will be made (a) upon the exercise of any warrants,
options or convertible securities granted, issued and outstanding on the date of
issuance of this Warrant and disclosed in the Schedule of Exceptions to the
Securities Purchase Agreement; (b) upon the grant, purchase or exercise of any
stock or options which may hereafter be granted, purchased or exercised under
any of the Company's stock option plans or employee stock purchase plan now
existing or to be implemented in the future, so long as the issuance of such
stock or options is approved by a majority of the independent members of the
Board of Directors of the Company or a majority of the members of a committee of
independent directors established for such purpose; (c) upon the exercise of the
Warrants pursuant to their terms and upon the conversion of the Preferred Stock
pursuant to the Certificate of Designation; (d) upon the issuance of Common
Stock pursuant to a bona fide, firm commitment underwritten public offering
registered under the Securities Act pursuant to an effective registration
statement; (e) upon the issuance of Common Stock to independent contractors or
consultants pursuant to written agreements existing on the date of the First
Closing (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and disclosed in the
Schedule of Exceptions to the Securities Purchase Agreement; (f) upon the
issuance of equity securities in connection with bank credit agreements and
equipment lease lines, the primary purpose of which is not to raise equity
capital; (g) upon the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to or in connection with
a strategic alliance, partnering relationship, or a bona fide business
acquisition of or by the Company, whether by merger, joint venture,
consolidation, sale of assets, sale or exchange of stock or otherwise, regarding
which the Company has obtained a fairness opinion from a nationally recognized
investment banking firm or regarding which an appropriate officer of the Company
has certified to the Holders that the Board of Directors of the Company has
determined in its reasonable business judgment that the Company has received in
such transaction the fair value for the shares issued therefor, or (h) upon the
issuance of securities otherwise to the Holders pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement.

              (c) Subdivision or Combination of Common Stock. If the Company, at
any time after the initial issuance of this Warrant, subdivides (by any stock
split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification or
otherwise) its shares of Common Stock into a greater number of shares, then,
after the date of record for effecting such subdivision,



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the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such subdivision will be
proportionately reduced. If the Company, at any time after the initial issuance
of this Warrant, combines (by reverse stock split, recapitalization,
reorganization, reclassification or otherwise) its shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, then, after the date of record for effecting such
combination, the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such combination
will be proportionately increased.

              (d) Adjustment in Number of Shares. Upon each adjustment of the
Exercise Price pursuant to the provisions of this Section 4, the number of
shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted
by multiplying a number equal to the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior
to such adjustment by the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment and dividing the
product so obtained by the adjusted Exercise Price.

              (e) Major Transactions.

                  (i) If the Company shall consolidate with or merge into any
corporation or reclassify its outstanding shares of Common Stock (other than by
way of subdivision or reduction of such shares), or if there shall occur any
share exchange pursuant to which all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
are converted into other securities or property, then each holder of a Warrant
shall thereafter be entitled to receive consideration, in exchange for such
Warrant, equal to the greater of, as determined in the sole discretion of such
holder: (x) a warrant to purchase (at the same aggregate exercise price and on
the same terms and conditions as the Warrant surrendered) the number of shares
of stock or securities or property of the Company, or of the entity resulting
from such transaction, to which a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock
delivered upon exercise of such Warrant would have been entitled upon such
transaction had the holder of such Warrant exercised (without regard to any
limitations on exercise herein contained) the Warrant on the trading date
immediately preceding the public announcement of such transaction and had such
Common Stock been issued and outstanding and had such holder been the holder of
record of such Common Stock at the time of such transaction, and the Company
shall make lawful provision therefor as a part of such consolidation, merger or
reclassification; and (y) cash paid by the Company in immediately available
funds, in an amount equal to the Black-Scholes Amount (as defined herein) times
the number of shares of Common Stock for which this Warrant was exercisable
(without regard to any limitations on exercise herein contained) on the date
immediately preceding the date of such transaction.

                  (ii) If, in connection with a business acquisition or a series
of business acquisitions occurring within any six (6) month period, the Company
shall issue capital stock representing in excess of twenty percent (20%) of its
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issuance (determined on a
fully-diluted basis), or if the Company shall sell all or substantially all of
its assets, then each Holder of a Warrant shall, at the option of each such
Holder, be entitled to receive consideration, in exchange for such Warrant held
by it, in cash paid by the Company from immediately available funds, in an
amount equal to the Black-Scholes Amount times the number of shares of Common
Stock for which this Warrant was exercisable (without regard to any limitations
on exercise herein contained) on the date immediately preceding the date of such
transaction.



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                  (iii) No sooner than ten (10) days nor later than five (5)
days prior to the consummation of any transaction of a sort described in
paragraphs (i) or (ii) above, but not prior to the public announcement of any
such transaction, the Company shall deliver written notice ("Notice of Major
Transaction") to the Holder of this Warrant, which Notice of Major Transaction
shall be deemed to have been delivered one (1) business day following the
Company's sending such notice by telecopy (provided that the Company sends a
confirming copy of such notice on the same day by overnight courier) of such
Notice of Major Transaction. Such Notice of Major Transaction shall indicate the
amount and type of the consideration which the Holder would receive under clause
(i) of this Section 4(e).

         For purposes of this Section 4(e), the "Black-Scholes Amount" shall be
an amount determined by calculating the "Black-Scholes" value of an option to
purchase one share of Common Stock on the applicable page on the Bloomberg
online page, using the following variable values: (i) the current market price
of the Common Stock equal to the closing trade price on the last trading day
before the date of the Notice of the Major Transaction (provided such market
price for purposes of this definition shall be capped at a maximum of two times
the then current Exercise Price in effect); (ii) volatility of the Common Stock
equal to the volatility of the common Stock during the 100 trading day period
preceding the date of the Notice of the Major Transaction; (iii) a risk free
rate equal to the interest rate on the United States treasury bill or treasury
note with a maturity corresponding to the remaining term of this Warrant on the
date of the Notice of the Major Transaction; and (iv) an exercise price equal to
the Exercise Price on the date of the Notice of the Major Transaction. In the
event such calculation function is no longer available utilizing the Bloomberg
online page, the Holder shall calculate such amount in its sole discretion using
the closest available alternative mechanism and variable values to those
available utilizing the Bloomberg online page for such calculation function.

                  (iv) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4(e) which may
be to the contrary, if following a transaction which triggers the applicability
of paragraphs (i) or (ii), the Common Stock remains outstanding or holders of
Common Stock receive any common stock or substantially similar equity interest,
in each of the foregoing cases which is publicly traded, each Holder may, at its
option in lieu of receiving the consideration set forth in paragraphs (i) or
(ii) above, as applicable, retain its Warrants and such Warrants shall continue
to apply to such common stock or shall apply, as nearly as practicable, to such
other common stock or equity interest, as the case may be.

              (f) Distribution of Assets. In case the Company shall declare or
make any distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders
of Common Stock as a partial liquidating dividend, by way of return of capital
or otherwise (including any dividend or distribution to the Company's
stockholders of cash or shares (or rights to acquire shares) of capital stock of
a subsidiary) (a "Distribution"), at any time after the initial issuance of this
Warrant, then the Holder shall be entitled upon exercise of this Warrant for the
purchase of any or all of the shares of Common Stock subject hereto, to receive
the amount of such assets (or rights) which would have been payable to the
Holder had such Holder been the holder of such shares of Common Stock on the
record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to such Distribution.



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              (g) Notices of Adjustment. Upon the occurrence of any event which
requires any adjustment of the Exercise Price pursuant to this Section 4, then,
and in each such case, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Holder,
which notice shall state the Exercise Price resulting from such adjustment and
the increase or decrease in the number of Warrant Shares purchasable at such
price upon exercise, setting forth in reasonable detail the method of
calculation and the facts upon which such calculation is based. Such calculation
shall be certified by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.

              (h) Minimum Adjustment of Exercise Price. No adjustment of the
Exercise Price shall be made in an amount of less than 1% of the Exercise Price
in effect at the time such adjustment is otherwise required to be made, but any
such lesser adjustment shall be carried forward and shall be made at the time
and together with the next subsequent adjustment which, together with any
adjustments so carried forward, shall amount to not less than 1% of such
Exercise Price.

              (i) Other Notices. In case at any time:

                  (i) the Company shall declare any dividend upon the Common
Stock payable in shares of stock of any class or make any other distribution to
the holders of the Common Stock;

                  (ii) the Company shall offer for subscription pro rata to the
holders of the Common Stock any additional shares of stock of any class or other
rights;

                  (iii) there shall be any capital reorganization of the
Company, or reclassification of the Common Stock, or consolidation or merger of
the Company with or into, or sale of all or substantially all of its assets to,
another corporation or entity; or

                  (iv) there shall be a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
liquidation or winding-up of the Company;

then, in each such case, the Company shall give to the Holder (a) notice of the
date on which the books of the Company shall close or a record shall be taken
for determining the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive any such
dividend, distribution, or subscription rights or for determining the holders of
Common Stock entitled to vote in respect of any such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or
winding-up and (b) in the case of any such reorganization, reclassification,
consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding-up, notice of
the date (or, if not then known, a reasonable approximation thereof by the
Company) when the same shall take place. Such notice shall also specify the date
on which the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividend,
distribution, or subscription rights or to exchange their Common Stock for stock
or other securities or property deliverable upon such reorganization,
reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale, dissolution, liquidation, or
winding-up, as the case may be. Such notice shall be given at least ten (10)
days prior to the record date or the date on which the Company's books are
closed in respect thereto, but in no event earlier than public announcement of
such proposed transaction or event. Failure to give any such notice or any
defect therein shall not affect the validity of the proceedings referred to in
clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above.



                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11


              (j) Certain Definitions.

                  (i) "Common Stock Deemed Outstanding" shall mean the number of
shares of Common Stock actually outstanding (not including shares of Common
Stock held in the treasury of the Company), plus (x) in case of any adjustment
required by Section 4(a) resulting from the issuance of any Options, the maximum
total number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Options
for which the adjustment is required (including any Common Stock issuable upon
the conversion of Convertible Securities issuable upon the exercise of such
Options), and (y) in the case of any adjustment required by Section 4(a)
resulting from the issuance of any Convertible Securities, the maximum total
number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion or
exchange of the Convertible Securities for which the adjustment is required, as
of the date of issuance of such Convertible Securities, if any.

                  (ii) "Market Price" means, as of any date, the average of the
five (5) lowest Volume Weighted Average Prices ("VWAPs"), as reported by
Bloomberg for the fifteen (15) consecutive trading dates immediately preceding,
but not including, the determination.

                  (iii) "Common Stock," for purposes of this Section 4, includes
the Common Stock and any additional class of stock of the Company having no
preference as to dividends or distributions on liquidation, provided that the
shares purchasable pursuant to this Warrant shall include only Common Stock in
respect of which this Warrant is exercisable, or shares resulting from any
subdivision or combination of such Common Stock, or in the case of any
reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, or sale of the
character referred to in Section 4(e) hereof, the stock or other securities or
property provided for in such Section.

              (k) Key Officer or Director Transfers. If any Key Officer (as
defined below) or director of the Company, during the period beginning on the
date of the First Closing and ending on the date that is six (6) months after
the Registration Statement (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement)
required pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Registration Rights Agreement is
declared effective (provided that such period shall be extended to the extent of
any Registration Suspension and Listing Suspension (each as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement)) (the "Transfer Period"), and while such person
is a Key Officer or director, directly or indirectly, offers, sells, transfers,
assigns, pledges, hedges or otherwise disposes of any shares of Common Stock, or
any Options to purchase or acquire shares of Common Stock or enters into any
agreement, contract, arrangement or understanding with respect to any such
offer, sale, transfer, assignment, hedge or other disposition of any Common
Stock or Options or provides or files any public notice, including pursuant to
Rule 144 of the Securities Act, of a bona fide intent to dispose of a specified
amount of Common Stock or Options (an "Executive Transfer"), then the Exercise
Price upon each such Executive Transfer shall be reduced by ten (10%) percent of
that Exercise Price calculated pursuant to this Warrant provided, however that a
Key Officer or director may sell in the aggregate during the portion of the
Transfer Period which portion commences on the date which is three (3) months
following the effectiveness of such Registration Statement up to 10 percent
(10%) of his or her total holdings of Common Stock on a fully diluted basis as
of the First Closing at prices not less than $2.75 per share (subject to
equitable adjustments for any stock split, combinations, stock dividends,
reclassifications or similar events) without triggering the adjustments of this
Section 4(k). Any of the foregoing



                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12


transactions entered into by any member of a director's or Key Officer's family
or by any trust or other entity for the benefit of any such director or Key
Officer or any member of his or her family or by any affiliate of such director
or Key Officer or any of the other foregoing persons, trusts or entities, shall
be treated for purposes of this section as a transaction by such director or Key
Officer. For purposes of this Section, a Key Officer shall mean individuals
listed on Schedule 3.18 of the Securities Purchase Agreement and any individual
who assumes or performs any of the duties of any Key Officer. For purposes of
clarification, and without implication that the contrary would otherwise be
true, each such Executive Transfer during the Transfer Period shall result in a
reduction of the Exercise Price by ten percent (10%) and such reductions, in
addition to any other adjustments to the Exercise Price pursuant to this
Warrant, shall be cumulative. For example, if a Key Officer makes an Executive
Transfer when the Exercise Price is $10.00, the Exercise Price would be reduced
to $9.00. If the Common Stock subsequently undergoes a two-for-one split, the
Exercise Price would be further reduced to $4.50. If, subsequent to the split,
the same or another Key Officer makes an Executive Transfer, the Exercise Price
would be further reduced to $4.05. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Key
Officer or director shall be entitled to make Permitted Transfers (as defined
below) without limitation and any Permitted Transfer shall not be included in
any computation of the 10% limitation set forth this paragraph. The term
"Permitted Transfer" shall mean (i) any assignment, gift or other transfer to
any child, spouse, or other family member or trust for the benefit of any family
member, provided that further transfers by any such transferees shall continue
to be subject to this Section 4(k) or (ii) any bona fide gift to any charitable
organization.





                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13


         5. Cap Amount. Prior to Stockholder Approval (as defined in the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and regardless of whether shares of the Company's
Common Stock are listed for trading on the Nasdaq National Market, the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market or the OTC Bulletin Board unless otherwise permitted by the
rules of Nasdaq (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) or unless the
rules thereof no longer are applicable to the Company, in no event shall the
total number of shares of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Preferred
Stock and exercise of the Warrants (if required) exceed the maximum number of
shares of Common Stock that the Company can issue without stockholder approval
pursuant to Nasdaq Rule 4350 (or any successor rule) (the "Cap Amount") which,
as of the date of initial issuance of shares of Preferred Stock and Warrants,
shall be 19.99% of the total number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to the date of the First Closing (or any such higher number as
the rules permit). A Holder's allocable portion of the Cap Amount shall be
applicable to both shares of Preferred Stock and Warrants held by it and shall
be applied to such Preferred Stock and Warrants on the basis of the time of
conversion or exercise, as the case may be, thereof. The foregoing restriction
shall not apply to the extent waived, modified or otherwise permitted by the
Nasdaq National Market System or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, as applicable to
the Common Stock.

         6. Issue Tax. The issuance of certificates for Warrant Shares upon the
exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder or such
shares for any issuance tax or other costs in respect thereof, provided that the
Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of
any transfer involved in the issuance and delivery of any certificate in a name
other than the Holder.

         7. No Rights or Liabilities as a Stockholder. This Warrant shall not
entitle the Holder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the
Company. No provision of this Warrant, in the absence of affirmative action by
the Holder to purchase Warrant Shares, and no mere enumeration herein of the
rights or privileges of the Holder, shall give rise to any liability of the
Holder for the Exercise Price or as a stockholder of the Company, whether such
liability is asserted by the Company or by creditors of the Company.

         8. Transfer, Exchange, Redemption and Replacement of Warrant.

              (a) Transfer. This Warrant and the rights granted to the Holder
are transferable, in whole or in part, upon surrender of this Warrant, together
with a properly executed assignment in the Form of Assignment attached hereto as
Exhibit 2, at the office or agency of the Company referred to in Section 8(e)
below, provided, however, that any transfer or assignment shall be subject to
the provisions of Section 5.1 and 5.2 of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
Until due presentment for registration of transfer on the books of the Company,
the Company may treat the registered holder hereof as the owner and holder
hereof for all purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to
the contrary. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the
registration rights described in Section 9 hereof are assignable only in
accordance with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement. In
addition, this Warrant may be pledged, and all rights of the Holder under this
Warrant may be assigned, without further consent of the Company, to a bona fide
pledgee, subject to the provisions of this Warrant and the Securities Purchase
Agreement, including, without limitation, this Section 8(a).



                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14


              (b) Warrant Exchangeable for Different Denominations. This Warrant
is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Holder at the office or agency
of the Company referred to in Section 8(e) below, for new Warrants, in the form
hereof, of different denominations representing in the aggregate the right to
purchase the number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased hereunder,
each of such new Warrants to represent the right to purchase such number of
shares as shall be designated by the Holder at the time of such surrender.

              (c) Redemption of Warrant. On or after the first anniversary of
the date hereof, provided (a) the Company has timely honored all previous
exercises of Warrants, (b) resale of all of the Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of this Warrant is covered by an effective Registration Statement, (c)
all such Common Stock can be sold pursuant thereto at all times during the
period from the date which is twenty (20) trading days prior to the delivery of
the Warrant Redemption Notice until the date which is ten (10) trading days
following the delivery of the Warrant Redemption Notice (the "Redemption
Effective Time"), (d) all other Liquidity Conditions (as defined in Article III
of the Certificate of Designation) are then satisfied and have been satisfied
for the twenty (20) immediately preceding business days, (e) the Company has not
failed to remove a legend at the request of Purchaser if the Company is required
to do so under Section 5.1 of the Securities Purchase Agreement, (f) the Company
is not then in violation of any of its material obligations under the Securities
Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreements, or the terms of the
Preferred Stock (which violations remain uncured), and (g) the Closing Bid Price
of the Common Stock for the twenty (20) consecutive trading days preceding the
delivery of the Warrant Redemption Notice is at least two hundred percent (200%)
of the then-effective Exercise Price, the Company may, by notice delivered to
the Holders (the "Warrant Redemption Notice"), cause, effective as of the
Redemption Effective Time, (x) if the Redemption Effective Time is prior to the
second anniversary of the date hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock into
which this Warrant is then exercisable to be reduced by an amount (the
"Reduction Amount") which is no greater than fifty percent (50%) of such number,
by payment of cash equal to the product of $.01 times the Reduction Amount
(provided, however that to the extent the Holder effects any exercise of this
Warrant between the date of delivery of the Warrant Redemption Notice and the
Redemption Effective Time, the Reduction Amount shall be reduced share for share
by the number of the shares of Common Stock into which this Warrant is so
exercised during such period); and (y) if the Redemption Effective Time is on or
after the second anniversary of the date hereof, the number of shares of Common
Stock into which this Warrant is then exercisable to be reduced by an amount
which is no greater than one hundred percent (100%) of such number, by payment
of cash equal to the product of $.01 times the number of shares of Common Stock
by which the number of shares of Common Stock into which this Warrant is then
exercisable is reduced.

              (d) Replacement of Warrant. Upon receipt of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to the Company of the loss, theft, destruction, or mutilation of
this Warrant or, in the case of any such loss, theft, or destruction, upon
delivery, of an indemnity agreement reasonably satisfactory in form and amount
to the Company, or, in the case of any such mutilation, upon surrender and
cancellation of this Warrant, the Company, at its expense, will execute and
deliver, in lieu thereof, a new Warrant or Warrants, in the form hereof, in such
denominations as Holder may request representing in the aggregate the right to
purchase the number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased hereunder.



                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15


              (e) Cancellation; Payment of Expenses. Upon the surrender of this
Warrant in connection with any transfer, exchange, or replacement as provided in
this Section 8, this Warrant shall be promptly canceled by the Company. The
Company shall pay all issuance taxes (other than securities transfer taxes) and
charges payable in connection with the preparation, execution, and delivery of
Warrants pursuant to this Section 8.

              (f) Warrant Register. The Company shall maintain, at its principal
executive offices (or such other office or agency of the Company as it may
reasonably designate by notice to the Holder), a register for this Warrant, in
which the Company shall record the name and address of the person in whose name
this Warrant has been issued, as well as the name and address of each transferee
and each prior owner of this Warrant.

              (g) Additional Restriction on Exercise. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, this Warrant shall not be exercisable by the
Holder to the extent (but only to the extent) that, if exercisable by Holder,
Holder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 4.9% (the
"Applicable Percentage") of the shares of Common Stock. To the extent the above
limitation applies, the determination of whether the Warrants shall be
exercisable (vis-a-vis other convertible, exercisable or exchangeable
securities owned by Holder) and of which Warrants shall be exercisable (as among
Warrants) shall, subject to such aggregate percentage limitation, be determined
on the basis of first submission to the Company for conversion or exercise or
exchange, as the case may be. No prior inability to exercise Warrants pursuant
to this paragraph shall have any effect on the applicability of the provisions
of this paragraph with respect to any subsequent determination of
exercisability. For the purposes of this paragraph, beneficial ownership and all
determinations and calculations, including without limitation, with respect to
calculations of percentage ownership, shall be determined in accordance with
Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Regulation
13D and G thereunder. The provisions of this paragraph shall be implemented in a
manner otherwise than in strict conformity with the terms this Section 8(g): (i)
to correct this paragraph (or any portion hereof) which may be defective or
inconsistent with the intended Applicable Percentage beneficial ownership
limitation herein contained or to make changes or supplements necessary or
desirable to properly give effect to such Applicable Percentage limitation; and
(ii) with respect to any other matter, with the consent of the holders of a
majority of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock. The limitations
contained in this paragraph shall apply to a successor holder of Warrants. The
holders of Common Stock of the Company shall be third-party beneficiaries of
this Section 8(g) and the Company may not waive this Section 8(g) without the
consent of holders of a majority of its Common Stock.



                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16


         9. Registration Rights. The Initial Holder of this Warrant (and certain
assignees thereof) is entitled to the benefit of such registration rights in
respect of the Warrant Shares as are set forth in the Registration Rights
Agreement.

         10. Notices. Any notice herein required or permitted to be given shall
be in writing and may be personally served or delivered by courier or by
confirmed telecopy, and shall be deemed delivered at the time and date of
receipt (which shall include telephone line facsimile transmission). The
addresses for such communications shall be:

                  If to the Company:

                           The viaLink Company
                           13155 Noel Road, Suite 800
                           Dallas, TX 75240
                           Telecopy: (927) 934-5555
                           Attention: Chief Financial Officer

                           with a copy to:

                           Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, LLP
                           4801 Plaza on the Lake
                           Austin, TX 78746
                           Telecopy: (512) 330-4001
                           Attention: J. Matthew Lyons, P.C.

and if to the Holder, at such address as Holder shall have provided in writing
to the Company, or at such other address as each such party furnishes by notice
given in accordance with this Section 10.

         11. Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Warrant shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
contracts made and to be performed in the State of Delaware. The Company
irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the United States federal courts
located in the County of New Castle in the State of Delaware in any suit or
proceeding based on or arising under this Warrant and irrevocably agrees that
all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may be determined in such
courts. The Company irrevocably waives the defense of an inconvenient forum to
the maintenance of such suit or proceeding. The Company agrees that a final
nonappealable judgment in any such suit or proceeding shall be conclusive and
may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on such judgment or in any other
lawful manner.

         12. Miscellaneous.

              (a) Amendments. This Warrant and any provision hereof may only be
amended by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and the Holder.



                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17


              (b) Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of the several
Sections of this Warrant are inserted for purposes of reference only, and shall
not affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

              (c) Cashless Exercise. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Warrant, this Warrant may be exercised by presentation and
surrender of this Warrant to the Company at its principal executive offices with
a written notice of the Holder's intention to effect a cashless exercise,
including a calculation of the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued
upon such exercise in accordance with the terms hereof (a "Cashless Exercise").
In the event of a Cashless Exercise, in lieu of paying the Exercise Price in
cash, the Holder shall surrender this Warrant for the number of shares of Common
Stock determined by multiplying the number of Warrant Shares to which it would
otherwise be entitled by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the
difference between the then current fair value per share of the Common Stock and
the then effective Exercise Price, and the denominator of which shall be such
then current fair value per share of the Common Stock. For purposes of this
Section 12(c), the "fair value" per share of Common Stock shall be the average
of the closing prices, as reported by Bloomberg, for the five (5) consecutive
trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the date of
determination.

              (d) Assignability. This Warrant shall be binding upon the Company
and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Holder and its
successors and assigns. The Holder shall notify the Company upon the assignment
of this Warrant.

                                      * * *





                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Series A Warrant to be
signed by its duly authorized officer.

                                        THE VIALINK COMPANY

                                        By:
                                            -----------------------
                                        Name:  William P. Creasman
                                        Title:  Vice President, Chief Financial
                                        Officer and General Counsel





                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19


                                    EXHIBIT 1

                           FORM OF EXERCISE AGREEMENT

         (To be Executed by the Holder in order to Exercise the Warrant)

         The undersigned hereby irrevocably exercises the right to purchase
____________ of the shares of common stock of THE VIALINK COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), evidenced by the attached Warrant, and [HEREWITH
MAKES PAYMENT OF THE EXERCISE PRICE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SHARES IN FULL/ELECTS
TO EFFECT A CASHLESS EXERCISE PURSUANT TO THE TERMS OF THE WARRANT], all in
accordance with the conditions and provisions of said Warrant.

         (i) The undersigned agrees not to offer, sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any Common Stock obtained on exercise of the Warrant, except under
circumstances that will not result in a violation of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or any state securities laws.

         (ii) The undersigned requests that stock certificates for such shares
be issued, and a Warrant representing any unexercised portion hereof be issued,
pursuant to the Warrant in the name of the Holder (or such other person or
persons indicated below) and delivered to the undersigned (or designee(s) at the
address (or addresses) set forth below:

Date:
     ---------------------------           ------------------------------------
                                           Signature of Holder

                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name of Holder (Print)

                                           Address:

                                           ------------------------------------

                                           ------------------------------------




                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20


                                    EXHIBIT 2

                               FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

         FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns, and
transfers all rights of the undersigned under the within Warrant, with respect
to the number of shares of Common Stock covered thereby set forth hereinbelow,
to:

Name of Assignee                Address                      No.  of Shares


and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints ______________________________
as agent and attorney-in-fact to transfer said Warrant on the books of the
within-named corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Date:            ,      ,
     ------------  -----

In the presence of

---------------------------


                               Name:
                                    ------------------------------------


                               Signature:
                                         -------------------------------
                                    Title of Signing Officer or Agent (if any):

                                    -------------------------------------------

                               Address:

                                       ----------------------------------------

                                       ----------------------------------------

                               Note:          The above signature should
                                              correspond exactly with the name
                                              on the face of the within Warrant.




                                      -20-