topic Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows in Administration and Deployment

What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

Jean-Jacques — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 01:59:13 GMT

My workplace just replaced my computer and installed SAS on the new one, but somehow failed to set file associations, so that Windows does not automatically chose SAS to open .sas files, or .sas7bdat files.
What is the name and location of the SAS system handler that normally starts when clicking on a .sas file?

Associating sas.exe with .sas files does not open the program in the editor as in a default install.

Thanks for the tip!

Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

JuanS_OCS — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 04:43:11 GMT

Generally, association via “Open with” then "another app" from your contextual menu should do the trick. Or with the SAS Deployment Manager installed on your machine.

Alternatively:

* via Apps then Default Apps
* Or, more technical, via your registry editor in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

Kurt_Bremser — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 10:53:40 GMT

Do you actually have a local SAS installed on your PC, or do you connect to a remote server with Enterprise Guide or SAS Studio?

Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

sajjad1122 — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 12:04:03 GMT

To correctly associate .sas files with the SAS editor, you should link them to the SAS File Type Identifier (typically sasuser.exe) rather than directly associating them with sas.exe. The correct handler for opening .sas files is often located in the directory where SAS was installed, usually something like:

C:\Program Files\SASHome\SASFoundation\9.x\sasuser.exe

You can try manually associating .sas and .sas7bdat files with this executable through Windows settings for file associations.

Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

FreelanceReinh — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 12:38:15 GMT

Hello @Jean-Jacques,

I think you mean

C:\Program Files\SASHome\SASFoundation\9.4\core\sasexe\sasoact.exe

See page 4 of the SAS GF 2013 paper "Double-Clicking a SAS® File: What Happens Next?".

Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

Jean-Jacques — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 13:44:16 GMT

Freelance Reinh has come closest to a solution so far.
The SAS Global Forum 2013 paper referenced describes the underlying mechanics in great detail but the solutions it offers are now obsolete.
Here is what I have tried, following the paper.
1. The SAS file Type Management no longer exists. It would be the best solution, so if anyone knows of an equivalent, that would be very good.
2. Editing the registry directly is not possible since I work in an organization that does not give me admin access to my computer. In addition, our IT support can do simple troubleshooting, but will not touch the registry.
3. I associated .sas files with SASOACT.exe, which is the least preferred solution in the paper, but is the only one available to me. This correctly launches the SAS environment when double-clicking a .sas file, but surprisingly the program does not open in the editor.

Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

RobH — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 13:47:30 GMT

SAS Support - Troubleshooting issues related to SAS® file-type association in a Windows operating environment may help you here

Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

Quentin — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 14:58:33 GMT

The tech support link from @RobH looks like it should help.

But I checked my Win10 PC, and the registry key in the paper looks like:

When I double click a .sas file, it opens in Display Manager (PC SAS). 9.4M7

Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

Jean-Jacques — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 15:17:09 GMT

RobH SAS Employee' solution is the correct answer.
It requires admin access, which I do not have, but it outlines steps that my organization IT's is able and willing to follow.
Thanks all!

Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

FreelanceReinh — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 15:36:21 GMT

Personally, I don't want to start a full SAS session if I just want to browse an old program, dataset or output. Therefore, I have associated the .sas, .sas7bdat and .lst file types with the SAS Universal Viewer (see https://support.sas.com/downloads/browse.htm?fil=&cat=74 -- it is not installed by default).

To open a .sas file in a SAS session for editing or execution, I almost always find it in the list of (20) most recently opened programs, which is available in the drop-down menu of the file name field in the "Open" dialog. (Same for .log files, which appear on a separate list after switching the file type to .log in the dialog.) Even if a program is not in the list, it can often be found quickly, e.g., by editing one of the existing list items to something like C:\appropriate\parent\folder\*.sas (i.e., using the asterisk wildcard character).

There is also a separate list of "Recent Files" in the File menu, which can be customized (via Tools → Options → Preferences → General) to contain up to 30 items.

Re: What to set as default app for handling sas program files (.sas) in Windows

Jean-Jacques — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 15:50:34 GMT

I can see why someone might prefer it that way. I think it is in fact one of the options when installing SAS. I personally don't prefer it.
I like being able to double-click and open into the SAS environment. One advantage is that that sets the folder in which the .sas file is stored as the work directory.