R help - Nov 2007 - Problem with environments

I have a numeric vector of length 1. I am trying to use it inside
a function just by giving its name, rather than specifying it as
an argument to the function. I am aware that there is an attach
function which you need to call. The attach function will accept a
list. However, I don't seem to be able to create the list properly. (Or 
should I use a frame instead?)

Anyway, here is the output, starting with the load operation;

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> # function bar_driver
>
> free_driver <- function (){
+ i <- 25
+ attach_list <- list (i = i)
+ print1 ("attach_list = ", attach_list)
+ attach (attach_list)
+ free_test ()
+
+ }
> free_test <- function (){
+ print ("entering free_test")
+ print1 ("i")
+ return ()
+
+ }
>
[1] "attach_list = "
$i
[1] 25


        The following object(s) are masked _by_ .GlobalEnv :

         i

[1] "entering free_test"
[1] "i"
Error in print(value) : argument "value" is missing, with no
default
>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
>From Tom:
Question 1: Is the idea of using such a variable viable at all? In some 
communities, it would be called a "free variable."
Question 2: Is the list correct? If not, how does one build it correctly?
Question 3: How do you tell it NOT to mask the variable i by .GlobalEnv, 
whatever that is?

Your advice?

Tom Jones
Thomas L. Jones, PhD, Computer Science

Is this what you want?

i <- 3
f <- function() get("i", parent.frame())
f() # 3


On Nov 22, 2007 10:38 PM, Thomas L Jones, PhD <jones3745 at verizon.net>
wrote:
> I have a numeric vector of length 1. I am trying to use it inside
> a function just by giving its name, rather than specifying it as
> an argument to the function. I am aware that there is an attach
> function which you need to call. The attach function will accept a
> list. However, I don't seem to be able to create the list properly. (Or
> should I use a frame instead?)
>
> Anyway, here is the output, starting with the load operation;
>
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> > # function bar_driver
> >
> > free_driver <- function (){
> + i <- 25
> + attach_list <- list (i = i)
> + print1 ("attach_list = ", attach_list)
> + attach (attach_list)
> + free_test ()
> +
> + }
> > free_test <- function (){
> + print ("entering free_test")
> + print1 ("i")
> + return ()
> +
> + }
> >
>
> [1] "attach_list = "
> $i
> [1] 25
>
>
>        The following object(s) are masked _by_ .GlobalEnv :
>
>         i
>
> [1] "entering free_test"
> [1] "i"
> Error in print(value) : argument "value" is missing, with no
default
> >
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> >From Tom:
>
> Question 1: Is the idea of using such a variable viable at all? In some
> communities, it would be called a "free variable."
> Question 2: Is the list correct? If not, how does one build it correctly?
> Question 3: How do you tell it NOT to mask the variable i by .GlobalEnv,
> whatever that is?
>
> Your advice?
>
> Tom Jones
> Thomas L. Jones, PhD, Computer Science
>
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