Error messages like the following might be generated when you use an ODS HTML statement with a FILE= option that specifies a fully qualified path with a directory and a filename:

This is most likely to occur beginning in the fifth maintenance release of SAS^® 9.4 (TS1M5) when you use the SAS^® windowing environment. 

The problem occurs because the "Use SASWORK" option is set as the default in the SAS registry and preferences.  This causes the WORK folder to be prefixed to the path that is specified with the FILE= option.

There are three possible circumventions for this issue.  Choose one of the following:

1.  Use the best practice for generating HTML files.  Separate the path from the filename using a combination of the PATH= option to specify the directory, and the FILE= option to specify the filename.  For example:

2.  Select Tools ► Options ► Preferences from the SAS menu bar and select the Results tab.  Clear the Use SASWORK check box. 

3.  Modify your SAS registry to disable the "Use SASWORK" option.  This can be done interactively using the SAS Registry editor or by using PROC REGISTRY to modify this setting programmatically.

The sample code below saves the registry key settings to a temporary file with the DATA step, and then uses PROC REGISTRY to import the key settings.  The "Use SASWORK" option will not be enabled for subsequent ODS HTML statements.

Operating System and Release Information