BULKLOAD to Oracle fails with "ERROR 134-75: Option BL_SQLLDR_PATH is no longer supported. Please use SAS system option SQLLDRPATH..."


After upgrading to SAS® 9.4M9 (TS1M9), code that uses BL_SQLLDR_PATH fails with the following error:

ERROR 134-75: Option BL_SQLLDR_PATH is no longer supported. Please use SAS system option SQLLDRPATH to specify the location of sqlldr.

Beginning in SAS 9.4M9, BL_SQLLDR_PATH is no longer a valid option for SAS/ACCESS® Interface to Oracle.

Prior to this release, a hot fix was released in 2020 to address a security vulnerability. After SAS addressed that vulnerability, BL_SQLLDR_PATH was ignored. For details about that change, see SAS Note 65680, "SAS/ACCESS® Interface to Oracle contains a remote code execution vulnerability."

Workaround

To circumvent this issue, do as follows:

Method 1: Remove All References to BL_SQLLDR_PATH

  1. Ensure you set the SQLLDRPATH environment variable. (See SAS Note 65680 for more information.)
  2. Remove BL_SQLLDR_PATH='path' from all LIBNAMEs and Data Set Options.

Method 2: Apply the Hot Fix for this SAS KB Article

While the hot fix will stop the error, you should also complete Method 1 to prevent future issues in later versions of SAS. The hot fix for this issue simply enables you to defer that removal until you have more time to action it. 

Once you apply the hot fix, the SAS Log will display a note instead of an error:

NOTE: Option BL_SQLLDR_PATH is no longer supported. Please use SAS system
      option SQLLDRPATH to specify the location of sqlldr.

In some circumstances, the note might be repeated. This is expected, and you can ignore the duplicate note.