SAS9.4 freezes/non responding when copying

[sophiec]

My 'sync clipboard' has been off since before I started experiencing this problem (just double checked when I read your post). Glad it seems to be helping others though! 

I've noticed that if I don't run any code, I can copy/paste as much as I would like. Once I run code, I start to have issues with freezing. I agree with poster @z_jackson that generally the longer I am using SAS, the worse the problem becomes. 

[SASKiwi]

Please note that this applies to the legacy SAS 9.4 Windowing Environment interface only. Other more modern SAS 9.4 development interfaces such as Enterprise Guide and SAS Studio are not affected. 

[DrAbhijeetSafai]

generally the longer I am using SAS, the worse the problem becomes. 

Yes. One workaround I was able to find was to close the SAS completely and then to start it again. The issue has gone away at least for now. Thanks for this workaround. Till the real solution comes, this workaround is also very valuable because it is saving lot of time and frustration. Thank you.

- Dr. Abhijeet Safai

[DrAbhijeetSafai]

In the meanwhile, I was able to find out one more workaround. If one opens the programme in SAS Universal Viewer and pasting from that place, then the screen is not freezing. So one solution is to open the programme in SAS Universal Viewer 'as well' when it is open in SAS 9.4.

Thanks.

- Dr. Abhijeet Safai 

[Vic3]

Two years later (November 2024) and I'm having the same problem running SAS 9.4 TS Level 1M8 on Win 11 Enterprise.

Copying worked fine when everything was freshly installed couple month prior, but now (likely after Win update) it freezes just like the OP described.

[SASKiwi]

@Vic3 - Have you tried the clipboard tweak described earlier in this post?

[Vic3]

I have 'Clipboard history' and 'Sync across devices' OFF as was suggested. That doesn't do anything. However, clearing Clipboard History helps. Will see if it lasts.

This brings another question. If Clipboard History is OFF already what am I clearing? Non existent history?

[sasgenie]

The trick is to prevent SAS from showing the html output in its own output window, and use a browser for output instead. Honestly based on the "solution," it looks like an issue easy to fix and I don't understand why SAS cannot do it.

Follow these steps: Tools -> Options -> Preferences -> Results table -> View results using Chrome

[Vic3]

The problem is not with the output. It freezes when I copy code inside the Editor window. Copying from the output works just fine.

[sasgenie]

Oddly enough, it's the output window that is causing freeze of the editor window. I cannot explain why but I know with near certainty that's the cause. Following the steps laid out and stop wasting time figuring out why -- it's been two years and SAS hasn't done anything to fix it.

Cleaning the clipboard will not last. Tried and the freeze will come back.

[Patrick]

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@sasgenie wrote:

The trick is to prevent SAS from showing the html output in its own output window, and use a browser for output instead. Honestly based on the "solution," it looks like an issue easy to fix and I don't understand why SAS cannot do it.

Follow these steps: Tools -> Options -> Preferences -> Results table -> View results using Chrome

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One reason might be that that the "PC SAS" Window Manager environment is obsolete since many years and that there isn't any further development on it. Start using SAS EG or even better SAS Studio. You could even use Visual Studio Code with the SAS extension or Jupiter Notebook if that's your preference.

[DrAbhijeetSafai]

I am facing the same issue and it is quite frustrating as lot of time is wasted. I am bookmarking this topic so that will get to know if any solution becomes available. 

Thanks.

- Dr. Abhijeet Safai

[Peter_Hong]

Here's another band-aid solution

If you have SAS installed locally, you can try to set it up using Microsoft Visual Studio code. Which solves the issue and gives you a user interface that's like the Enterprise Studio. Also with Copilot integrated. 

[DrAbhijeetSafai]

Just wanted to document here that it is a very serious and big problem and lot of time is getting wasted as screen freezes. It is very frustrating as well.  I am sure that concerned people must be taking a note of it and must be involved in finding the solution but felt that I should share my experience. Thanks. 

-- Dr. Abhijeet Safai 

[SASKiwi]

@DrAbhijeetSafai  - If you want faster action on this then you really need to open a track with SAS Tech Support. Adding comments on old posts wont necessarily result in any action from SAS.