For a first-time SAS user the preference file does not exist yet but has to be created by running the task sasprefgen without any arguments on the command line. This will scan the SAS task packet directory structure along the SAS_PATH+SAS_DIR path and compile the global file from individual preference files in the respective task packages.
Unlike ordinary task parameters preference parameters cannot be specified
on the command line. Their values are always read from the user-specific
preference file. Any modifications to this file, like adding, removing,
re-grouping, or changing the values of individual entries will be done
by a TBD editor task. It is foreseen that all interactive GUI
tasks will comprise the editor as an integral part.