By default, the contents of each Enhanced Editor window are
saved in a backup file every 10 minutes.
You can manually change the time interval, as discussed in the Change Time Interval section later in this note.
The name of the backup file is shown in the following example,
where FILENAME is either Untitled or the name of the SAS program
that is currently opened in the editor:
Autosave-of-FILENAME.$as
Note that the backup files are deleted when the Enhanced Editor window containing the SAS program code is closed or you exit SAS.
The default location for the backup SAS program files is dependent on the version of SAS
that you have installed and your specific Windows operating system.
One way to locate the backup SAS program file, Autosave-of-FILENAME.$as, is to search your entire c:\ drive, including hidden files and folders, for files with a .$as extension.
Another way is to check the default folder location as noted below.
SAS 8
In SAS 8, the Enhanced Editor autosave files are saved to the location that is defined by the Microsoft Windows TEMP environment variable. Typically, the location is:
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Local Settings\Temp
However, by default, this is a hidden directory on Windows 2000. To see all hidden files and folders, open Windows Explorer or My Computer and click
Tools ► Folder options.
Click the View tab, select Show hidden files and folders, and click Apply.
To determine the TEMP location, see SAS Note 4816, "Enhanced Editor autosave feature creates a file: autosave of filename.$as."
SAS 9.1
On most Windows operating systems the autosave files are in the following location:
c:\Documents and Settings\userid\Application Data\SAS\Enhanced Editor
where userid is the Windows user name that is logged on to the machine.
On Microsoft Windows NT, the default location is as follows:
c:\winnt\profiles\username\Application Data\SAS\Enhanced Editor
On Microsoft Vista or Windows Server 2008, the default location is a hidden folder:
c:\Users\userid\AppData\roaming\sas\EnhancedEditor
where userid is the Windows user name that is logged on to the machine.
To search hidden folders, click Advanced Search and select
Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files.
If SAS cannot access the location, then the autosave files are stored in the temporary location, as noted for SAS 8.
SAS 9.2
On most Windows operating systems the autosave files are in the following location:
c:\Documents and Settings\userid\Application Data\SAS\EnhancedEditor
On Microsoft Vista or Windows Server 2008, the default location is a hidden folder:
c:\Users\userid\AppData\roaming\sas\EnhancedEditor
where userid is the Windows user name that is logged on to the machine. To search hidden folders, click on Advanced Search and check the box beside 'Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files'.
If SAS cannot access the location, then the autosave files are stored in the temporary location, as noted for SAS 8.
Change Time Interval
To manually change the 10-minute time interval, click Tools ►
Options ► Preferences ► Edit.
In the Preferences dialog box, make sure
Autosave is selected and change the time.
You can also change the time interval by adding the WAUTOSAVE command to the sasv9.cfg file.
Note: WAUTOSAVE documentation in SAS OnlineDoc® 9.1.3 still refers to the TEMP autosave location.
Operating System and Release Information
| SAS System | Base SAS | Microsoft Windows NT Workstation | 9.1 TS1M0 | |
| Microsoft Windows XP Professional | 9.1 TS1M0 | |
| Microsoft® Windows® for 64-Bit Itanium-based Systems | 9.1 TS1M0 | |
| Microsoft Windows 2000 Server | 9.1 TS1M0 | |
| Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server | 9.1 TS1M0 | |
| Microsoft Windows 2000 Datacenter Server | 9.1 TS1M0 | |
| Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional | 9.1 TS1M0 | |
