If you have a SAS proc to access your data, then change the Proc Print statements to put the packed-decimal fields out in zoned-decimal (printable character) format. That solves one of your biggest issues right off the top -- If you have a MainFrame format problem, use MainFrame re-formatting tools before you grab the file. Now use your favorite FTP to get the file over from the Big Iron World into the small iron world.

Procede to read the resultant file as the normal string-of-characters that Unix expects. You will have to use substr or something simular to break up the string into records (unless you remembered to have the SAS code write the new lines for you...) and then attack each record with substr and crow-bar to get the fields pulled out of the record correctly.

Wheee what fun. (And don't even think about trying to create a MainFrame readable record on your Unix system. Send SAS a flat file and have it rebuild the pack-decimal for you.)

(Personally, I do the whole problem over on the MF using PL/1. But.)