R help - Apr 2009 - what happens if a function removes an external (global) variable ?

My program consists of a number of functions and a main script. 
It loops through many time series analyzing one at a time.
I have declared a number of arrays and scalar variables in the  main script
namespace (using  C++ terminology)
because those data structures ar shared by many functions.
let say "XX" is he name of a global array. I wonder what happens in
the following cases:

1. a function tries to remove the global array through the instruction
"rm(XX)"
    Will the next usage of XX still access a global variable (if using the
assignment operator "<<-")
    or a new local one will be created ?

2. the main script removes the global array through the instruction
"rm(XX)"
    Will the next usage of XX in the main script allocate a new global variable
that can be accessed by all the called functions ?

3. If the global array XX is never removed but is assigned in different loops
alternatively very short and very long time series
    then what will happen to the memory segment allocated to R ? Will it get
more and more fragmented slowing down
    the process ... or aven crash ?

Thank you very much.
Maura 


tutti i telefonini TIM!


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