Overview

You use the SAS Package Reader to view packages that have been published to the archive transport through the Publishing Framework of SAS Integration Technologies. The SAS Package Reader reads content that has been published as a file of type SPK (an abbreviation for SAS Package), which is a compressed file. SPK files are commonly delivered to users as attachments to e-mail messages.

The SAS Package Reader displays a listing of the entries within a package. It contains a built-in viewer for SAS data set entries and it launches a Web browser for all other entry types, such as text, HTML, or graphics.

Note: Some entry types cannot be viewed. Examples include viewer files, SAS catalogs, and SAS databases (MDDB, FDB, and DMDB files). If the selected entry type is not viewable, then the View icon does not appear in the toolbar. In addition, if you try to view a SAS data set that is password-protected, a message is displayed saying that the data set cannot be accessed.

What you do with a package corresponds to the type of consumer that you are and the type of information that is contained in the package. Packages are created for specific target consumers for definite purposes. Typical consumers and their corresponding package types are as follows:

Business users and executives

who can view external files in the form of text (for example, Word), HTML, or MIME (for example, GIF or JPEG) via a Web browser.

Spreadsheet users

who can view SAS data in CSV format that can be loaded into third-party spreadsheet applications, such as Excel and Lotus.

SAS programmers

who can create SAS programs and data in the form of data sets, catalogs, or SAS databases (for example, MDDBs, FDBs, and DMDBs).