When you install a single SAS client (for example: SAS Enterprise Guide), the shared files might default to C:\Program Files\SAS\SharedFiles, even if you specify a different SASHOME location (for example: D:\SAS).

This can happen if there is NOT a SAS shared directory already created on a user system.

The workaround is to create a sashome\SharedFiles directory before you start the installation. This works only if the SAS shared files location in not already defined in the deployment registry.

These are the only ways to force the SAS shared files to a different location.

• Have a system that does not have SAS already or previously installed.
• Create a SharedFiles directory before starting the installation.
• Create a SharedFiles key in the Windows Registry.

Currently, these are the only two clients that we have seen this behavior with:

• SAS Enterprise Guide
• SAS Stat Studio

Note: In later releases, the name SAS Stat Studio was changed to SAS/IML^® Studio

To perform the steps, you can do one of the following:

• Use SAS Note 37352 to make sure that there is no SAS or SharedFiles/ directory on your system.


• Create a SharedFiles directory before starting the installation:
1. Open Windows Explorer.
2. Click the drive on which you want to install SAS.
3. Select File ► New ► Folder from the menu and type Program Files.
4. Open the ProgramFiles folder you just created, select File ► New ► Folder from the menu, and type SAS
5. Open the SAS folder you just created, select File ► New Folder from the menu, and type SharedFiles


• Create a Shared Files key in the Windows Registry:
1. Select Start ► Run and type regedit and press the Enter key
2. Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\ key.
3. Right-click the SOFTWARE key, select New ► Key. and type SAS Institute Inc..
4. Right-click SAS Institute Inc.., select New ► Key, and type Common Data.
5. Right-click Common Data, select New ► Key, and type Shared Files.
6. On the right side of the window, right-click in the blank window and select New String Value or edit the Default key that is already there.
1. Name should be (Default).
2. Type should be REG_SZ.
3. Data should be drive:\Program Files\SAS\SharedFiles. (For example: E:\Program Files\SAS\SharedFiles)

Related SAS Notes

• SAS Note 11500: "When installing SAS 9.1, the Shared Files directory is installed to C:\Program Files\SAS\Shared Files during the System Requirements Wizard"
• SAS Note 32578: "Locations of shared-files directories for SAS^® 8.2, SAS^® 9.1, SAS^® 9.2, and SAS^® 9.3"

Operating System and Release Information