R help - Feb 2008 - Hiding a function

Hi the list

Is it possible to 'hide' a function  from the user ? I cut a big 
fonction in sub
function and I would like to hide the sub function, just like if I 
declare them
in the big function :

--------------
a <- function(x){
  b <- function(y){y^2}
  d <- function(y){y^3}
  b(x)+d(x)+2
}
a(2)
# [1] 14
b(2)
# Error :
----------------

I would like the same, but with external declaration (for readability) :

----------------
b <- function(y){y^2}
d <- function(y){y^3}
a <- function(x){
  b(x)+d(x)+2
}
a(2)
# [1] 14
b(2)
# Error
----------------

Is it possible ?

Thanks

Christophe

On 23/02/2008 5:15 AM, Christophe Genolini wrote:
> Hi the list
> 
> Is it possible to 'hide' a function  from the user ? I cut a big 
> fonction in sub
> function and I would like to hide the sub function, just like if I 
> declare them
> in the big function :
> 
> --------------
> a <- function(x){
>   b <- function(y){y^2}
>   d <- function(y){y^3}
>   b(x)+d(x)+2
> }
> a(2)
> # [1] 14
> b(2)
> # Error :
> ----------------
> 
> I would like the same, but with external declaration (for readability) :
> 
> ----------------
> b <- function(y){y^2}
> d <- function(y){y^3}
> a <- function(x){
>   b(x)+d(x)+2
> }
> a(2)
> # [1] 14
> b(2)
> # Error
> ----------------
> 
> Is it possible ?
Yes, as long as you're using a package with a NAMESPACE, just don't 
export b and d.  There are other ways too, but they don't improve 
readability.

Duncan Murdoch