SAS AutoSave recovery file created by SAS 9.4 for Windows
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AS files are associated with the SAS AutoSave feature in SAS 9.4 for Windows. They are temporary recovery files created by SAS software to preserve work during an editing session or help recover unsaved content after an interruption.
These files are intended to be handled by SAS, rather than opened as ordinary documents. The associated SAS installation may use an AS file automatically during recovery; manually opening or editing it is generally not recommended.
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Date updated: September 30, 2026
An AS file is an internal SAS AutoSave file associated with SAS 9.4 and the sasvft95.dll component supplied by SAS Institute. It is normally created in the background while SAS program or project content is being edited.
The format is not a general-purpose interchange standard, and its exact structure is determined by the SAS version and the AutoSave implementation. An AS file may contain temporary recovery information rather than a complete, user-facing SAS program, so its contents and usefulness can vary.
When SAS closes unexpectedly, the Windows version of SAS may detect available AutoSave data and offer recovery options. After successful recovery, users should save the recovered work in a normal SAS program or project format and remove obsolete temporary files only when they are no longer needed.
SAS 9.4 for Windows is the primary software associated with this extension. Equivalent AutoSave files should not be expected to work across different SAS releases or platforms, and there is no established native support for treating this file type as a standard document in macOS or Linux applications.
To use an AS file, install the same or a compatible release of SAS 9.4 for Windows that created it, then start SAS normally. If recovery data is available, SAS may identify it automatically after an abnormal shutdown. Follow the recovery prompt and save any recovered content as a regular SAS file.
There is no generally supported standalone AS viewer for Windows, macOS, or Linux. Do not rename the file to a different extension or edit it with a text editor. On other platforms, recovery may require access to the original Windows SAS environment or assistance from a SAS administrator.
AS files are temporary recovery files and normally cannot be meaningfully converted with online converters or general desktop conversion utilities. The recommended procedure is to let SAS 9.4 recover the data and then save the recovered content in a standard SAS program, project, data, or export format supported by the relevant SAS workflow.
If SAS cannot recover the file, make a copy before investigation and contact SAS Technical Support or an experienced SAS administrator. Converting an AS file by changing its filename extension does not convert its internal format and may prevent SAS from recognizing the recovery data.
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