Date:         Tue, 13 Apr 2004 12:02:08 -0700
Reply-To:     Cool <cool_guy@oddpost.com>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Cool <cool_guy@ODDPOST.COM>
Subject:      SAS, Oracle 9,  varchar and compression
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I'm pulling a 20MM + record table from an oracle database. It has 12 columns, one of which is a varchar(4000). It looks like most records have this field empty. Here is my question: Will sas compression simulate the varchar capabilities? That is, will sas' compression 'compress' this file as effectively (or better) than oracle varchar? If not, are there any space saving strategies anyone can recommend? (for example, since the varchar column is about 1% populated, offload that information to its own seperate table)


Thanks,
Cool