When SAS version 7 and 8 was introduced we noticed that writing the RTF external file took up much more time then it did with SAS version 6.12.
We brought this problem to the attention of SAS Institute and they agreed that they had a bug to write external files on networks in these versions.
Since then SAS fixed the problem by a HOT FIX for SAS 8.2.
Go to http://ftp.sas.com/techsup/download/hotfix/hotfix.html web address.
It is hot fix 82BC20. From the url above, select "SAS Release 8.2" under "Hot Fix Quick Links" on the left-side of the page. From this page, select "What's New?". Hot fix 82BC20 for Base SAS is the second hot fix listed on this page.
We highly recommend to apply this hot fix when creating RTF files, especially if the RTF reports are hundreds of pages in size.
We brought this problem to the attention of SAS Institute and they agreed that they had a bug to write external files on networks in these versions.
Since then SAS fixed the problem by a HOT FIX for SAS 8.2.
Go to http://ftp.sas.com/techsup/download/hotfix/hotfix.html web address.
It is hot fix 82BC20. From the url above, select "SAS Release 8.2" under "Hot Fix Quick Links" on the left-side of the page. From this page, select "What's New?". Hot fix 82BC20 for Base SAS is the second hot fix listed on this page.
We highly recommend to apply this hot fix when creating RTF files, especially if the RTF reports are hundreds of pages in size.