# Error in running CMAQ-ISAM 5.3.2, error opening SA\_IO\_LIST file

**URL:** <https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/error-in-running-cmaq-isam-5-3-2-error-opening-sa-io-list-file/3339>\
**Category:** CMAQ-ISAM\
**Created:** [June 14, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/error-in-running-cmaq-isam-5-3-2-error-opening-sa-io-list-file/3339 "2022-06-14T16:26:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Minhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Minhe](https://forum.cmascenter.org/u/Minhe)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2022, 4:26pm UTC](https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/error-in-running-cmaq-isam-5-3-2-error-opening-sa-io-list-file/3339/1 "2022-06-14T16:26:39Z")

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I have met a problem when i ran CMAQ-ISAM 5.3.2, as shown belows. Just wondering how to resolve this error. Thanks a lot.  
==================================  
|\>— CONFIGURE SCENARIO —\<|  
==================================

```
 *** ERROR ABORT in subroutine SA_IOLIST on PE 001       
 Error Opening SA_IO_LIST file

```

PM3EXIT: date&time specified as 0  
Date&time specified as 0

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**Author:** ![lizadams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@lizadams](https://forum.cmascenter.org/u/lizadams)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/error-in-running-cmaq-isam-5-3-2-error-opening-sa-io-list-file/3339/2 "2022-06-20T16:05:12Z")

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According to the run instructions in the [User Manual](https://github.com/USEPA/CMAQ/blob/main/DOCS/Users_Guide/CMAQ_UG_ch11_ISAM.md#113-run-instructions)

The environment variable SA\_IOLIST is set to the location of the ISAM control file.

```auto
SA_IOLIST path/filename Provide the location of the ISAM control file (discussed below)

```

In the [tutorial for running CMAQ-ISAM](https://github.com/USEPA/CMAQ/blob/main/DOCS/Users_Guide/Tutorials/CMAQ_UG_tutorial_ISAM.md)

There are several places in your run script that would trigger this error.

1. The environment variable CTM\_ISAM is set to N, which prevents the environment variable from being set in the run script

If this is the case, then change:

```auto
setenv CTM_ISAM N

```

to

```auto
setenv CTM_ISAM Y

```

See this section of the run script.

```auto
#> Integrated Source Apportionment Method (ISAM) Options
 setenv CTM_ISAM Y
 if ( $?CTM_ISAM ) then
    if ( $CTM_ISAM == 'Y' || $CTM_ISAM == 'T' ) then
       setenv SA_IOLIST ${WORKDIR}/isam_control.txt
       setenv ISAM_BLEV_ELEV " 1 1"
       setenv AISAM_BLEV_ELEV " 1 1"

```

1. there is an issue with the path for WORKDIR that is specified earlier in the script

setenv WORKDIR ${CMAQ\_HOME}/CCTM/scripts #\> Working Directory. Where the runscript is.

setenv SA\_IOLIST ${WORKDIR}/isam\_control.txt

1. the isam\_control.txt has been modified to a new name in the run script, and the corresponding file name and location does not match between what is in the run script and what is on the file system.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Minhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@Minhe](https://forum.cmascenter.org/u/Minhe)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 7:20am UTC](https://forum.cmascenter.org/t/error-in-running-cmaq-isam-5-3-2-error-opening-sa-io-list-file/3339/3 "2022-06-21T07:20:28Z")

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Thanks very much, @lizadams