Ways to Count the Number of Obs in a dataset and pass it into a macro variable...

Well...there are many ways of getting the observation count into a macro variable...but there a few pros and cons in those
methods...

1. using sql with count(*)..

eg.
proc sql;
select count(*) into :macvar
from dsn;
quit;

pros: simple to understand and develop

cons: you need to read the dataset in its entirety which requires processing power here...

2. datastep
eg.
data new;
set old nobs=num;
call symputx('macvar',num);
run;

pros: simple to understand and develop

cons: you need to read the dataset in its entirety which requires processing power here...

3. use dictionary table / view sashelp.vtable..

eg.
proc sql;
select nobs into :macvar
from sashelp.vtable
 where memname="DSN" and memtype"DATA" and libname="LIBLOC";
quit;

where the values of memname, memtype and libname represents ur dataset name, data type and libname the library
where the dataset is located...

NOTE: the values of memname, memtype and libname should be in capital letters mandatorily...

pros: one of the better methods

cons: complex to understand

4. use attrn() function with nlobs option to get the obs count...used in the macro example below....

pros: one of the better methods....reusable..

cons: complex to understand...

Here's a SAS macro that counts the Observations in a dataset passed as a parameter and stores the value in a macro
variable named macrovar....

/*Define macro that counts obs in a SAS dataset*/

%macro RecsInDS(table,macvar);
%global &macvar;

%local handle rc;

 %let handle = %sysfunc(open(&table)); /* Open the table with open() function*/
%if &handle %then
%do;

%let &macvar = %sysfunc(attrn(&handle, nlobs)); /* get the observation count into the macvar
macro variable using the function attrn() with nlobs as the option*/

%let rc = %sysfunc(close(&handle)); /* close the dataset with the close() function */

%end;

%PUT RecsInDS &table: &&&macvar. &macvar=&&&macvar.; /* write the Record count to the Log */

%mend RecsInDS;

Now Call the Macro...

%RecsInDS(sashelp.air,obs);

The SAS Log

RecinDS sashelp.air: 144 obs=144

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Read full article @ http://sastechies.blogspot.com/2009/11/ways-to-count-number-of-obs-in-dataset.html