File Format Translation Algorithms

SAS 6 Translation

In SAS 6, translation occurs twice for each data transfer between a client and a server that run on computers whose architectures are incompatible.
  1. The data is translated from the source computer's native file format to transport format.
  2. The data that is represented in transport format is translated to the target computer's native file format.

SAS 8 (and Later) Translation

In SAS 8 and later releases of SAS, translation occurs only once for each data transfer between a client and a server that run on computers whose architectures are incompatible. SAS/CONNECT dynamically translates incompatible file formats for each file upload or file download transaction, bypassing the explicit creation of a transport file.