Overview
There are times when you need to send the data to another user who has a different version of SAS on a different platform.  In this case, converting your data to SAS transport is the way to make your data more portable.  In addition to creating SAS transport, it is also useful to be able to convert that transport file back into SAS dataset.

The SD2XPT tool allows you to create the transport file while providing you the code to optionally convert the data back into SAS dataset in what ever platform your destination is.

Generating Transport File from SAS Data
You can generate a SAS Transport file from a SAS dataset by doing the following.

1. From the main SyData screen, select the SD2XPT icon.
2. Either type the path in the "Source Data" entry or click on the "..." button to navigate to the path where SAS datasets are located.
3. Select one or more data sets which you wish to convert.
4. You can optionally view the dataset via the preview button.
5. Specify the path where the new transport file is created in the entry "output path".
6. Specify the output file name.  This can be in the format of filename.xpt where xpt is the file extension.  If you select multiple source datasets, you have the option to then create each multiple transport with the same name but with the xpt extension.  In this case, type the asterisk (*) in the output file specification. 
7. It is optional to type in the name of the program which will be generated containing the code converting the transport file back into the original dataset retaining all original attributes.  The program name can be specified in the field "Base Code" entry.
8. Click on the OK button to have the file created.

Saving Code
You can optionally save the code which captures the selections you have made.  The code that is generated can be called outside the use of the user interface of SyData to generate the same report.  There are two different types of programs that can be created.  This include:

• Macro Code - The program containing a macro call to generate the transport file file from selected parameters.
• Reverse Base Code - This is the reverse SAS Base code that converts the transport file back into SAS datasets.

Do the following:

1. Make all your selections such as the steps 1 through 7 in the 'Generating Transport file from SAS Data'.
2. If you want to Generate the Macro Code, to the following:
   • At the entry labeled "Base Code", enter the path or click on the "..." button to navigate to the location where the new program will be created.
   • Type the new name of the program that is going to be generated. 

     The program name does not need the file extension of (.sas)

3. If you want to generate the reverse base code, do the following:
   • Type the program name including the path for the entry labeled as "Base Code."
   • Click on the OK button.