Detailed Description

x-PRESS is ideal for data warehousing and archival storage because of its extreme file size reductions and direct read access within them; no analysis runs are necessary. Direct read access of a record or sequence of records within a file compressed with DA index is done by specifying the start position or record in the original file and the output size or number of records.

x-PRESS is also ideal for transferring data from a mainframe host to UNIX or Windows, since it uses printable symbols. The form of the compressed data expression as a text file allows a transfer in ASCII or EBCDIC code without influencing the decompression. x-PRESS will also convert text data during compression or decompression using freely-definable translation tables.

During compression of file groups, all input files produce a single output file (pool file). Each file has its own file header. During decompression, the output file may be renamed or, in the absence of other instructions (e.g. all files with another suffix), returned to its original form. Only the file name is stored (without directory, HLQ, ..). It is also possible to decompress selected single files from this pool and password-protect the decompression.

x-PRESS supports all programs that permit standard sequential access, and has a subprogram call exit to support any desired extension. By remaining operating system-independent and re-entrant, x-PRESS permits the simultaneous handling of any number of compressed data files by a single application program (and use under CICS). x-PRESS also interfaces to "Siron", ESR, ARCIS and CFS.