Re: release plans

[Ben Pfaff]

Jason Stover <address@hidden> writes:

> I think "we" (that means either Ben or John) should add the ability to
> read SAS data sets to PSPP. I have no idea how hard this would be, or
> how long it would take. I can't remember if someone already mentioned
> it on the list, but a quick search of the archive didn't show
> anything.

SAS transport format is documented and would not be difficult to
read.  The other SAS formats (the majority of them) are not
documented and would have to be reverse-engineered.  I imagine
this would be difficult, as even the Stat/Transfer folks admit
that they don't completely understand the format:
        http://www.stattransfer.com/html/sas_files.html

I've now filed a wishlist bug to implement reading SAS transport
format.

> Another way to reach a lot more users is to make PSPP able to
> read SAS and SPSS syntax. I know that would be difficult, but
> I believe it would make PSPP useful to many more people. I think
> SAS syntax used to compile into C, it may still do so. It's syntax
> looks like C syntax, so reading it may not be that difficult.

It's worth thinking about, but I'm not ready to do anything
yet...
-- 
"[Modern] war is waged by each ruling group against its own subjects,
 and the object of the war is not to make or prevent conquests of territory,
 but to keep the structure of society intact."
--George Orwell, _1984_