topic Re: Problem with code copying and saving at the top of the SAS System Program in SAS Procedures

Problem with code copying and saving at the top of the SAS System Program

dthompsonada — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:25:34 GMT

Hello SAS Communities,

This is a strange one. I am having intermittent problems with code copying and moving to the top of my SAS System file in SAS Windowing - SOFTWARE: SAS (r) Proprietary Software 9.4 (TS1M6). I’m concerned about whether this is a bug or if it is a consequence of how I am handling the program files or some other user-error that I can avoid. There is nothing coming up in the Log re: errors or flags on this code - or any other code in the program.

Attached are screen shots of one program (3.1) just before I saved, after I reopened and showing the code in its original location (This was duplicated, not moved. It existed in both locations when the program was reopened.)

Also attached, 2 more examples of instances where this occurred. (2.3 and 4.1)

This occurred again, just today, with only one of the two programs I worked on. I can’t figure out the rhyme or reason to it, nor how to avoid this.

Thank you!

Danielle

Re: Problem with code copying and saving at the top of the SAS System Program

ChrisHemedinger — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:44:18 GMT

In the SAS for Windows environment, there are several keys mapped to various editing and submit functions. One of these is F4, which by default "recalls" the last piece of code you submitted and adds it to your editor. It was more useful before we had a stateful editor like we have today...but it still does the function.

Any chance you're tripping over that, or perhaps another keyboard shortcut that you're triggering without realizing it?

Re: Problem with code copying and saving at the top of the SAS System Program

Reeza — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 21:57:07 GMT

Are you working remotely across a VPN where things may not sync as expected?

Re: Problem with code copying and saving at the top of the SAS System Program

dthompsonada — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 23:32:16 GMT

Hi Reeza-

Thanks for getting back to me. I am not using VPN. This is all stored locally, on a SAS-dedicated PC laptop, directly on the C Drive. I am the only user.

Thanks,

Danielle

Re: Problem with code copying and saving at the top of the SAS System Program

mkeintz — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 02:40:24 GMT

Forgive the obviousness of this question, but are you sure that you are actually saving the program file, and re-opening the one you saved? I.e., if you make some other change to the code (something simple like adding an extra semi-colon at the end of a statement), followed by saving and re-opening, is that change preserved?

Re: Problem with code copying and saving at the top of the SAS System Program

dthompsonada — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 03:16:24 GMT

Totally valid question. I am certain of this. These are assignment files that I am actively updating to answer homework questions and checkpoint questions. They are not closed until the assignment is completed. When I go back in, they open with everything that I know I have already answered and I can confirm this because I also place each answer in a word document that gets saved at the same time as the SAS system program. There is also exactly one copy saved of each because I am not engaging in version control for these short assignments.

Re: Problem with code copying and saving at the top of the SAS System Program

dthompsonada — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 03:18:46 GMT

This sounds like something that could DEFINTIELY be happening and it exactly what I would have expected - some kind of user error on my part. Something mechanical makes sense, given how often I hit F3. I am going to fake a finger flub to test this on the next program I open! Thank you.

Re: Problem with code copying and saving at the top of the SAS System Program

dthompsonada — Wed, 28 Oct 2020 01:03:51 GMT

Tested this in multiple system programs and this is what was happening! Thanks for saving my sanity.