Invoking SAS® or creating ODS Graphics output might result in "Error: Java repository file(s) are missing or inaccessible"


Invoking SAS or attempting to create ODS Graphics output might result in the following errors in the SAS log:

Error: Java repository file(s) are missing or inaccessible.
Error: Unable to initialize the ODS classpath during SAS startup.
Error: Exception text: For one or more plug-in requests, no matching plug-ins were found in repository.

In most situations, performing the following steps can circumvent the issue.

  1. Shut down any running SAS sessions. 
     
  2. Open one of the following directories, depending on your operating system:

    Microsoft Windows: !SASROOT\SASVersionedJarRepository\eclipse
    UNIX: !SASROOT/SASVersionedJarRepository/eclipse

    In the directory path, !SASROOT is your default SAS installation directory. For most installations of SAS on a Windows system, this directory is typically the following Windows directory: C:\Program Files\SASHOME.
     
  3. In the directory, locate the following file:

    com.sas.app.launcher.cacheFile

    Rename this file as follows: 

    com.sas.app.launcher.old
     
  4. Restart SAS. However, restart SAS as an administrator. Note that you have to run as administrator only this first time. After you restart SAS, SAS should then re-create the com.sas.app.launcher.cacheFile file.     

If these steps do not circumvent the issue, in most cases you either need to do a complete re-installation of SAS or upgrade to the latest production release of SAS (if you are not currently running the latest production release). Note: The latest production release of SAS is SAS® 9.4M7 (TS1M7).