R help - Sep 2009 - weird "vector size cannot be NA/NaN" problem

Hi,

I have a weird problem with my data but I cannot really locate it and cannot
make a small example data set do reproduce the problem.
I basically divide one numerical column of a data frame with another. When I run
describe() on that column, I get
"Error in vector("integer", length) : vector size cannot be
NA/NaN"

The two original columns comprise many zero values and I think the particular
row which causes the problem ends up with an "Inf".

I fear that other functions might also not be reliable for this data and that I
have to repair it somehow. It actually happens with many of the variables from
the various tables which originally are in Stata .dta format and which I import
with the foreign library.

I am working on windows XP and R 2.9.1

I assume that this description is too vague but if anybody has an idea, I would
appreciate it.

Thanks so much,
  Werner

Hi,

I have to follow up my own question since this problem is getting quite
disturbing and I fear that it also causes other functions to malfunction without
notice.

It occurs quite quite often when I manipulate the mentioned data set. It
definitely is caused by the column entries which are Inf (caused by a value/0
operation) but I cannot reproduce the error. When I do a
describe(c(5,3,76,4/0)), for example, the last value is Inf but the error is not
thrown.

But I can save the vector and load it and the error still occurs. Would someone
be willing to look at that vector and maybe finds out the root of the problem?
(I'll send the vector by email)

As I said in the earlier email, the data is imported with read.dta of the
foreign library and the only manipulation I do is dividing the values of two
columns by each other.

Thanks a million,
  Werner

> 
> I have a weird problem with my data but I cannot really
> locate it and cannot make a small example data set do
> reproduce the problem.
> I basically divide one numerical column of a data frame
> with another. When I run describe() on that column, I get
> "Error in vector("integer", length) : vector size cannot be
> NA/NaN"
> 
> The two original columns comprise many zero values and I
> think the particular row which causes the problem ends up
> with an "Inf". 
> 
> I fear that other functions might also not be reliable for
> this data and that I have to repair it somehow. It actually
> happens with many of the variables from the various tables
> which originally are in Stata .dta format and which I import
> with the foreign library.
> 
> I am working on windows XP and R 2.9.1
> 
> I assume that this description is too vague but if anybody
> has an idea, I would appreciate it.
> 
> Thanks so much,
> ? Werner
>