Is it true that the raw data file must contain the same number of records for each observation to use line pointers properly?

The statement is true because using line pointers in SAS assumes a specific structure of the data being read from a raw data file. Line pointers allow users to read multiple lines of data for each observation. For this to function correctly, it is essential that each observation corresponds to a consistent number of records. If the raw data file varies in the number of records for each observation, line pointers will not work accurately, leading to data integrity issues or incorrect data readings.

In contrast, if each observation is designed to contain the same number of records, SAS can effectively manage the reading process and ensure that all records are accurately captured and processed. This uniformity simplifies the parsing of the file and allows for efficient handling of the data, thus aligning well with SAS's reading capabilities.