topic Re: Cannot save code files in SAS Programming

Cannot save code files

phdibart — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:13:20 GMT

I have a weird problem when trying to save my programs in SAS Foundation. Keep in mind that this is an entirely new problem that appeared out of nowhere, and I have not changed anything or updated my Windows 10 installation recently.

Let's say I open an existing code file to edit (or create a new one), I may or may not be able to save it. Sometimes, I can save it the first time, but any subsequent save attempts, nothing happens and it plays a audible charm like there is an error. Other times, I can't even save it once. Trying Save As also works sometimes and not others. It doesn't matter what folder I'm saving in. I've checked for odd file locks, uninstalled and reinstalled SAS, but nothing has worked.

Closing SAS and opening it back up also works sometimes and not others.

What could cause this?

Re: Cannot save code files

Tom — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:55:37 GMT

I would check if the folders you are using have been linked to cloud storage (like Microsoft OneDrive). Perhaps that is what is causing the interferance. Or perhaps some other form of automatic backup.

Are you using the "enchanced" editor? Does it still do the same thing if you use the plain old Program Editor instead.

Re: Cannot save code files

phdibart — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:28:13 GMT

I was using the Enhanced Editor, but I think I figured it out by using the command line to remove read only for the entire folder and subfolders: attrib -r "c:\path\*" /s It appears to be working, but I'll know more in the next few days if it's still doing it.

Re: Cannot save code files

ballardw — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:23:18 GMT

If you are working in an environment with an IT staff you might contact them to see if they made any recent changes to security software or possibly any local or group machine settings. If your organization doesn't have a lot of SAS users the IT staff may have done something that interferes with SAS.

Re: Cannot save code files

phdibart — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:05:05 GMT

Update: Removing the read only attribute via the command line didn't work.

Re: Cannot save code files

aaweaver — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:04:26 GMT

I have been plagued by this problem and may have finally found a solution that works for me:

Uncheck the 'Safe Save' option (Tools-Options-Preferences-Safe save (Enhanced Editor only).

I haven't had the issue of my SAS program files not saving since I turned this off.

Re: Cannot save code files

phdibart — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 18:15:44 GMT

Wow, that seemed to work! SAS help had me add -SET SAS_NO_SAFE_SAVE 1 to the config file, but that didn't work. Turning it off via the menu seemed to do the trick!