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. The SAS Package Reader does not provide a viewer for data sources that are structured with SAS, such as catalogs and databases (for example, MDDB, FDB, and DMDB files).

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

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).