Reading compressed files

[Steve Holden]

Shadab Sayani wrote:
> Hi,
> I have compressed files compressed using different techniques 
> (especially unix compress). So I want to have a module that reads any of 
> these (.Z,.bz,.tgz files) files and manipulates the data.
> The data has a syntax.It contains
> HEADER (some information)
> BODY      (some information)
> FOOTER   (some information)
> If it were a normal text file I can get the values corresponding to 
> HEADER BODY and FOOTER by open function.
> But here the files are in different format .Z , .bz ,.tgz,.gz .But I 
> know these are the only formats.Also I cannot rely upon the extensions 
> of the file (a .Z file can have no extension at all).Is there a way to 
> identify  which file am I reading and then  read it?If so how to read it?
> Thanks and Regards,
> Shadab.
> 
> Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk. messenger.yahoo.com
> 
The usual way is that used by the "file" utility - take a look at the 
/etc/magic file to see if you can gain any clues from that.

regards
  Steve
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