Insight Statistical Consulting Ltd
John Kirkpatrick MSc BSc (Hons) CStat CSci

Word can't open my RTF file

When I try to open my RTF file, I get a dialog similar to the following:

I've come across two possible explanations for this.

Option 1

You've set the PROTECTSPECIALCHARS option to OFF and then (either accidentally or on purpose) emitted some RTF control language to your file - and unfortunately, it contains a syntax error.

If you didn't mean to emit any RTF, check your data carefully for backslashes (especially in file names) and curly braces. You'll need to escape any backslashes (replace them with double backslashes) and ensure that the curly braces are balanced. You may need to escape the curly braces too. Alternatively, if you can, remove all of these characters from your data.

If you did mean to emit the RTF, then there's nothing for it but to roll your sleeves up and spot the syntax error. Sometimes, that can be tricky - good luck!

Option 2

You're running SAS version 8 and you've hit the BODYTITLE bug. This happens when you use the BODYTITLE option and also set the NONUMBER system option. It's a known problem. Fortunately, there's a simple workaround: use a style to make the date disappear. For example:

PROC TEMPLATE; DEFINE STYLE styles.MyRTF FROM Styles.RTF/STORE=WORK.Templates; STYLE PageNo FROM PageNo/ FONT_SIZE=0.5pt FOREGROUND=WHITE; END; RUN; ODS PATH (PREPEND) WORK.Templates; ODS RTF FILE="<Myfile.rtf>" STYLE=styles.MyRTF;

In the printed RTF file, the page number will, in effect, be invisible. On the screen, the only trace of it will be a tiny grey box.

Note that you can't set the FONT_SIZE to zero: SAS just ignores the setting in this case.
Naturally, you can save yourself having to type this every time you need it by saving the modified style to a permanent template store and adding the ODS PATH statement to your autoexec. You can also save yourself the trouble of specifying the STYLE option on the ODS RTF statement my naming your style styles.RTF, the default for the RTF destination. If you do this, I'd strongly suggest not overwriting the RTF style supplied by SAS Institute.