Transitioning to 64-bit SAS on Windows

The major benefit of 64-bit applications is that they no longer have the memory limitation imposed by their 32-bit predecessors. This is why many SAS customers are making the transition from 32-bit SAS to 64-bit SAS. The move to 64-bit SAS can be daunting at first sight. There are many questions which quickly come to mind:

What are the benefits of 64-bit?

Will my existing 32-bit data work with 64-bit SAS?

What problems might I encounter?

Here are some resources which might answer your questions and ease your transition:

Making the decision: benefits of 64-bit

More than Doubled: Implications of Moving from 32-bit to 64-bit SAS on Windows

Should you care about 64-bit applications?

Are 64-bit client applications twice as good as 32-bit applications?

About the data

Usage Note 24456: When I migrate a file from 32-bit to 64-bit SAS, does the file size change?

Usage Note 38339: SAS file compatibility when upgrading from 32-bit to 64-bit Microsoft Windows

Usage Note 38379: In SAS® 9.3, Base SAS data sets are interoperable between Microsoft Windows 64-bit and Microsoft Windows 32-bit operating systems

Problem Note 52872: SAS® Version 604 data sets cannot be read with 64-bit releases of SAS

Microsoft Office Data (PC Files Server for SAS 9.3 and SAS 9.4)

Usage Note 43802: Installing SAS® 9.3 PC Files Server and using it to convert 32-bit Microsoft Office files to SAS® 64-bit files

SAS® 9.4 PC Files Server: Installation and Configuration Guide

Potential problems

The top gotchas when moving to 64-bit SAS for Windows

Installation Note 44168: SAS® installation incorrectly enters Update mode when you install a 32-bit Windows order on an x64-based machine

Transitioning to 64-bit SAS on Windows was published on SAS Users.