The following error message might be generated when you run a SAS^® procedure or a DATA step in a Microsoft Windows operating environment:

ERROR: Permanent copy of file LIBREF.entity.UTILITY was deleted.

The file information might look like the following:

WORK._tf000NN.UTILITY  /* Where NN is a number. */
WORK.'SASTMP-000NN'n.UTILITY /* Where NN is a number. */
WORK.ZFMMEM.UTILITY
WORK.SASMACR.CATALOG

The error indicates that a utility file that is created by SAS is being locked, moved, or removed by a process external to SAS. This condition is most likely caused by the scanning or quarantine activity of an antivirus application.

To circumvent the problem, it should be possible to configure such applications to avoid scanning certain drives, directories, or file types. Set the application to exclude files with the following extensions from scanning:

sd7
sc7
sas7bdat
sas7butl 
sas7bput 
sas7bcat 
sas7bpgm 
sas7bndx 
sas7bvew 
sas7bacs 
sas7bmdb 
sas7bfdb 
sas7bitm 
sas7baud 
sas7bbak 
sas7bdmd 
sas7bods 

Operating System and Release Information