pack, pcat, unpack—compresses and expands files

pack [ – ] [ –f ] name ...

pcat name ...

unpack name ...

pack compresses files. Wherever possible (and useful), each input file name is replaced by a packed file name.z with the same access modes, access and modified dates, and owner as those of name. Typically, text files are reduced to 60–75% of their original size. pcat does for packed files what cat does for ordinary files, except that pcat cannot be used as a filter. The specified files are unpacked and written to the standard output. Thus, to view a packed file named name.z, use pcat name.z or just pcat name. unpack expands files created by pack.