R help - Jun 2001 - Suggestion for tapply

In S-Plus the ... argument for tapply is before simplify.
In R (1.2.3) ... is after simplify, causing the user to
have to specify simplify every time ... is used even 
though the default is usually OK.  Unless there was a
benefit to reordering the arguments, it might be a good 
idea to reconsider the current function definition.  
... is probably used more than simplify 
(e.g., tapply(rainfall, state, quantile, probs=c(.25,.75))).

Thanks -Frank
-- 
Frank E Harrell Jr              Prof. of Biostatistics & Statistics
Div. of Biostatistics & Epidem. Dept. of Health Evaluation Sciences
U. Virginia School of Medicine  http://hesweb1.med.virginia.edu/biostat
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Frank E Harrell Jr <fharrell at virginia.edu> writes:
> In S-Plus the ... argument for tapply is before simplify.
> In R (1.2.3) ... is after simplify, causing the user to
> have to specify simplify every time ... is used even 
> though the default is usually OK.  Unless there was a
> benefit to reordering the arguments, it might be a good 
> idea to reconsider the current function definition.  
> ... is probably used more than simplify 
> (e.g., tapply(rainfall, state, quantile, probs=c(.25,.75))).
> 
> Thanks -Frank
Right. We have as standard strategy to be calling sequence compatible
with S(-PLUS), unless there's good reason not to, so this is close to
being a bug. Will fix for 1.3.0.

-- 
   O__  ---- Peter Dalgaard             Blegdamsvej 3  
  c/ /'_ --- Dept. of Biostatistics     2200 Cph. N   
 (*) \(*) -- University of Copenhagen   Denmark      Ph: (+45) 35327918
~~~~~~~~~~ - (p.dalgaard at biostat.ku.dk)             FAX: (+45) 35327907
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