R help - Oct 2007 - Error in if loop

I have created a if loop as follows:

name = "e"
if (name == "v")
  {
   u = 0
}
else u = 1

however i am getting error : Error: unexpected 'else' in
"else"

definitely I can write in  : ifelse() form, however I want to write in this way.
Can anyone tell me where is my error?


thanks in advance
       
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On 21/10/2007, stat stat <stat700004 at yahoo.co.in>
wrote:
> I have created a if loop as follows:
>
> name = "e"
> if (name == "v")
>   {
>    u = 0
> }
> else u = 1
>
> however i am getting error : Error: unexpected 'else' in
"else"
There are 3 issues here:

1. Do you appreciate the difference between ifelse and if ? What are
you actually trying to do - in this context, ifelse would usually be
more sensible but as you've not said what you want to do, it is
difficult to guess.
2. I don't get the same error as you. Which version of R are you using?
> if (name=="v")
+ {
+ u=0
+ }
> else u=1
Error: syntax error

This error message makes it clear that there is a syntax problem. In
fact, look at the lefthand column of characters and you should see
what the problem is....

3. R is interpreting your code as two separate expressions because you
are using an interactive shell. Try this instead:

if (name=='v') {
u=1
} else {
u=0
}

Hope this helps.

Best wishes,

Mark

-- 
Dr. Mark Wardle
Specialist registrar, Neurology
Cardiff, UK