Unix compress and uncompress utilities use LZW compression. I don't believe that Zlib handles LZW compression because it is a patented algorithm. It is the same compression algorithm used in GIF images and the source of all the controversy surrounding the use of GIFs.

The gzip tool does handle uncompression of LZW compressed files. I don't think the uncompression algorithm is patented. (Don't take my word on that though.) Zlib likely doesn't bother because its purpose is to provide another compression algorithm not to support uncompression of data compressed with a patented algorithm.

There are a few other compression libraries on CPAN but I don't think any of them support the functionality you need. Your best bet, until someone writes an uncompress module just for this, is to call another program to do it for you like you are already doing.

-sauoq
"My two cents aren't worth a dime.";

In reply to Re: uncompressing a foo.Z file by sauoq
in thread uncompressing a foo.Z file by lostcause

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