R help - Oct 2004 - beginner questions: objects and scripts

hi,

I got some questions on using R,

1. How do I check and edit definition of an object?

for example,
>x <- 1:100
then after a while I want to check how x is defined.

list(x) or whatever functions I know only list its
content, but I want to see its definition, without
scrolling up and down, and edit it like "fixing" a
function.

2. How to save my work in current session as a nice
script?

again, I want to save objects as they are defined, not
numbers, other than copy / paste. I tried dump(), etc.
In another word, how do you work with R?

Thanks,
Terry

Terry Mu wrote:
>hi,
>
>I got some questions on using R,
>
>1. How do I check and edit definition of an object?
>
>for example,
>
>  
>
>>x <- 1:100
>>    
>>
>
>then after a while I want to check how x is defined.
>
>list(x) or whatever functions I know only list its
>content, but I want to see its definition, without
>scrolling up and down, and edit it like "fixing" a
>function.
>
>  
>
str(x)

gives a concise description of the structure of x
>2. How to save my work in current session as a nice
>script?
>
>again, I want to save objects as they are defined, not
>numbers, other than copy / paste. I tried dump(), etc.
>In another word, how do you work with R?
>  
>
Many people use the ESS (Emacs Speaks Statistics) package for Emacs or 
XEmacs for this.  Although starting with Emacs or XEmacs is not simple, 
John Fox and others have written introductory guides for Windows users.

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 07:00:01 -0700 (PDT), Terry Mu
<terry_mu at yahoo.com> wrote :
>hi,
>
>I got some questions on using R,
>
>1. How do I check and edit definition of an object?
>
>for example,
>
>>x <- 1:100
>
>then after a while I want to check how x is defined.
>
>list(x) or whatever functions I know only list its
>content, but I want to see its definition, without
>scrolling up and down, and edit it like "fixing" a
>function.
You can use history() to see the past history of commands, but there's
no automatic way to find the command that produced x.
>2. How to save my work in current session as a nice
>script?
>
>again, I want to save objects as they are defined, not
>numbers, other than copy / paste. I tried dump(), etc.
>In another word, how do you work with R?
history() is very good for that.  

Duncan Murdoch

>>[...]How to save my work in current session as a nice
>>script?
>>
>>again, I want to save objects as they are defined, not
>>numbers, other than copy / paste. I tried dump(), etc.
>>In another word, how do you work with R?[...]
>
>Many people use the ESS (Emacs Speaks Statistics) package for Emacs or 
>XEmacs for this.[...]

I would add that (under Windows, and I would assume under other OS) you can 
use any programming editor to develop the R commands, and then copy and 
paste them into the R session.  Under Windows, the "Tinn-R" editor is
much
simpler than Emacs, and has some useful features for R users: line 
numbering, syntax coloring, and the ability to submit all or part of the 
edited text to R easily. http://tinn.solarvoid.com/



-- 
Michael Prager
NOAA Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research
Beaufort, North Carolina  28516  USA
http://shrimp.ccfhrb.noaa.gov/~mprager/

NOTE: Opinions expressed are personal, not official. No government
endorsement of any product is made or implied.

At 10/14/2004 10:45 AM Thursday, you wrote:
>>>[...]How to save my work in current session as a nice
>>>script?
>>>
>>>again, I want to save objects as they are defined, not
>>>numbers, other than copy / paste. I tried dump(), etc.
>>>In another word, how do you work with R?[...]
>>
>>Many people use the ESS (Emacs Speaks Statistics) package for Emacs or 
>>XEmacs for this.[...]
>
>
>I would add that (under Windows, and I would assume under other OS) you 
>can use any programming editor to develop the R commands, and then copy 
>and paste them into the R session.  Under Windows, the "Tinn-R"
editor is
>much simpler than Emacs, and has some useful features for R users: line 
>numbering, syntax coloring, and the ability to submit all or part of the 
>edited text to R easily. http://tinn.solarvoid.com/
Oops!  Correct URL is  http://www.sciviews.org/Tinn-R/

MHP



NOTE: Opinions expressed are personal, not official. No government
endorsement of any product is made or implied.

Terry Mu wrote:
>hi,
>
>I got some questions on using R,
>
>1. How do I check and edit definition of an object?
>
>for example,
>
>  
>
>>x <- 1:100
>>    
>>
You should'nt really redefine assignment, but something like

"<<<-" <- function(xyz4, value) {
      v <- deparse(substitute(value))
      xname <- deparse(substitute(xyz4))
      res <- value
      comment(res) <- v
      assign(xname, value=res, inherits=TRUE)
}

and then

 > "<<<-"(x, abs(sin(3*pi/2)))
 > x
[1] 1
 > comment(x)
[1] "abs(sin(3 * pi/2))"

You could even redefine <- to be <<<-, but don't

Probably better to use the history mechanism.

Kjetil
>
>then after a while I want to check how x is defined.
>
>list(x) or whatever functions I know only list its
>content, but I want to see its definition, without
>scrolling up and down, and edit it like "fixing" a
>function.
>
>2. How to save my work in current session as a nice
>script?
>
>again, I want to save objects as they are defined, not
>numbers, other than copy / paste. I tried dump(), etc.
>In another word, how do you work with R?
>
>Thanks,
>Terry
>
>______________________________________________
>R-help at stat.math.ethz.ch mailing list
>https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
>PLEASE do read the posting guide!
http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
>
>
>  
>

-- 

Kjetil Halvorsen.

Peace is the most effective weapon of mass construction.
               --  Mahdi Elmandjra