R help - Sep 2012 - About the scope of a variable and the save() method

In the following test, the variable x is supposed to be modified within the
function test.save.x. It works as expected util using the save command.

# initialize x.file
x <- 1
save(x, file="x.file")
rm(x) # Remove x from R_GlobalEnv
exists("x") # FALSE

# define test
test.save.x <- function(){
save.x <- function(){
save(x, file="x.file")
}
 change.x <- function(){
load("x.file", parent.frame(n = 2)) # load x to upper level frame
x <<- x + 1
save.x() # If comment this line. x variable will not appear in R_GlobalEnv
}
 change.x()
}

test.save.x()
exists("x") # TRUE. Why?

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On 12-09-28 11:51 PM, Qiang Wang wrote:
> In the following test, the variable x is supposed to be modified within the
> function test.save.x. It works as expected util using the save command.
>
> # initialize x.file
> x <- 1
> save(x, file="x.file")
> rm(x) # Remove x from R_GlobalEnv
> exists("x") # FALSE
>
> # define test
> test.save.x <- function(){
> save.x <- function(){
> save(x, file="x.file")
> }
>   change.x <- function(){
> load("x.file", parent.frame(n = 2)) # load x to upper level frame
The upper level frame is globalenv(), so this is the line that creates x.
> x <<- x + 1
> save.x() # If comment this line. x variable will not appear in R_GlobalEnv
This comment is false.  save.x() doesn't create any new variable, it 
just creates a file.

> }
>   change.x()
> }
>
> test.save.x()
> exists("x") # TRUE. Why?
Because you created it by your call to load().

Duncan Murdoch