PROC SQL terminates when required modules have been quarantined by avast! antivirus software in Windows environments.

When avast! antivirus software quarantines modules that PROC SQL relies on, it removes them from the SASEXE directory. This causes PROC SQL to terminate with an error similar to the following:

Use Windows Explorer to verify that all of the PROC SQL modules are present in the SASEXE directory. If you are using 64-bit SAS^® 9.4 and took the defaults during the installation, the modules are located here:

These are the modules that PROC SQL requires:

• sassql.dll
• sassqlp.dll
• sassqlt.dll
• sassqlu.dll
• sassqp.dll
• sassqpd.dll
• sassqx.dll
• sassqxb.dll

If any of the above PROC SQL modules are missing, check the avast! Quarantine (Virus Chest) folder for them. For any of these modules that you find in the Virus Chest, choose the Restore and add to exclusions option.

The following link contains instructions for using avast! Virus Chest software: How to Use Virus Chest in avast!