PROBLEM:

How do I make a transport file using PROC COPY?  Once this is done,
how do I unravel it again into a true SAS Data Set?  

NOTE: for more general instructions for SAS Transport Files,
      see the overview document at:
         http://www.usc.edu/its/doc/statistics/sas/sastransport/


******************************************************************************

SOLUTION:

There is one basic procedure to perform these tasks.  However, because
there are numerous different platforms that SAS operates under, small
differences do arise every now and then.  What follows are two
examples of the same procedure on each of two different platforms:
UNIX and Windows.

Note 1: This PROC COPY method of making a transport file should be 
  used only when necessary.  PROC CPORT (see explanation elsewhere in
  this WWWeb page menu) should be used if possible.  The following situations
  are examples of when PROC COPY must be used:

   - when re-converting a transport file originally made with PROC COPY
   - when transporting a Version 5 SAS Data Set
   - when transporting a file from a Release higher than 6.06 down to
       a lower release


NOTE 2:  SAS transport files must be sent in binary mode.  When moving
  files using ftp, make sure the 'binary' choice is checked (usually
  a radio button or check-box) before transferring the file.
  If using command-line ftp, issue the command 'binary' before
  sending.



UNIX
----

1. Creating a PROC COPY transport file.

        options replace;			   * Needed for 6.09 under 
                                                     UNIX;
       	libname olddata '~/username'; 		   * This is where the
                                     	  	     SAS data sets are;
	libname  plum  xport  '~/sending.dta'; 	   * This is what the 
						     transport file is called;
 	proc copy in=olddata out=plum; 
             select orange grape;


2. Unraveling a PROC COPY transport file.

       	libname olddata '~/sasdata'; 		   * SAS Data Sets will be
                                       		     written here;
	libname pear xport '~/incoming.data'; 	   * This is what the
 						     transport file is called;
	proc copy in=pear out=olddata; 
             select peach guava;



Windows
-------

1. Creating a transport file

       	libname olddata 'c:\sasdata';             * This is the location 
                                          	    of the SAS data sets;
	libname  plum  xport  'a:sending.dta'; 	  * This is what the 
						    transport file is called;
	proc copy in=olddata out=plum; 
             select orange grape;


2. Unraveling a transport file

       	libname olddata 'c:\sasdata'; 		  * New SAS Data Sets 
                                                    will be written here;
       	libname pear sasv5xpt 'a:incoming.dta';   * This is what the 
						    transport file is called;
       	proc copy in=pear out=olddata; 
             select peach guava;