Beginning with SAS® 9.3, using the ODS PDF statement with an incorrect value or a blank value for the FONTSLOC system option might result in the following error message:

The following nondescriptive error message could also be generated:

A similar problem can occur if the fonts that are shipped with SAS software are not installed in the location that the FONTSLOC system option points to. The problem occurs because the default system font is a TrueType font that under normal circumstances resides in the directory that the FONTSLOC system option points to.

To determine the current setting of your FONTSLOC system option, submit the following statements to SAS and then check the new information that is written to the SAS log:

One circumvention for this issue is to correct the problem with the FONTSLOC system option, making sure that it points to the correct location where all of the SAS fonts reside.  With a correct installation of SAS, all of the SAS-supplied fonts (such as Albany AMT and Thorndale AMT) are installed in the following default fonts directory:

This directory should then include approximately 55 .ttf font files.  This is the SAS fonts directory that the FONTSLOC system option should point to. 

Another circumvention for this issue is to add the following OPTIONS statement to your SAS code before the ODS PDF FILE= statement:

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