Tips:Determining the number of observations in a SAS data set efficiently

From sasCommunity

SAS data sets consist of a descriptor portion and a data portion that contains the data values.The descriptor portion of a SAS data set contains detailed information about the data set. This information includes:

• The name of the data set and its member type
• The date and time the data set was created
• The number of observations
• The number of variables
• The engine type

Using the descriptor portion is one of the most efficient and quickest ways of determining the number of observations in a SAS data set. Click on "read more" for further explanation.