Date:         Mon, 20 Nov 2006 16:21:33 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Groeneveld <jim2stat@YAHOO.CO.UK>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jim Groeneveld <jim2stat@YAHOO.CO.UK>
Subject:      Re: Uncompressing SAS datasets
Comments: To: Bernie Zimmerman <bernie@HOMER.ATT.COM>

Hi Bernie,

You can uncompress a SAS dataset just like any (external) file. Actually all
files are "external", can be compressed and uncompressed. There is no
difference between file types. And you actually shouldn't say your dataset
is compressed, but your dataset has been packed inside a compressed file
(zip file), in/from which any file can be stored/extracted, any number of
files (and subdirectories). There is nothing special on SAS datasets.

The point with a pipe, however, is that the (un)compression program should
allow a command line interface in order to be able to be driven from SAS.
Winzip has a separately downloadable command line interface. Many other
compression software also has additional command line support, like Power
Archiver, gzip for DOS/Windows and PKZIP for DOS or Windows. (I often still
use PKZIP for DOS, vs. 2.50, Windows and long file name compatible; just
apply the DOS SETVER option: SETVER PKZIP.EXE 7.10; the same applies to
PKUNZIP. 7.10 refers to the DOS version number of Windows 98, without it it
does not suppport long file names.)

Another issue is: are the Unix (or Linux) datasets Windows compatible? I
really don't know. If not then you have to use transport files. But for the
moment I assume they are compatible (OS independent).

regards - Jim.
--
Jim Groeneveld, Netherlands
Statistician, SAS consultant
home.hccnet.nl/jim.groeneveld


On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:09:33 -0500, Bernard S. Zimmerman
<bernie@HOMER.ATT.COM> wrote:

>Listers:
>
>My question is fairly simple, I hope.
>
>Is there a way, an easy way perhaps, to *uncompress* a SAS dataset that
>has been compressed with the "gzip" command on Unix. I know you can read
>external compressed files, both compressed using (WinZip) and gzip-ped
>with the 'pipe' option of the filename statement.  Does something
>similar exist when it comes to permanent SAS datasets?
>
>TIA
>
>Bernie  Zimmerman
>
>--
>AT&T Labs, consultant
>Florham Park, NJ 07932
>(973) 236- 6718