R help - Aug 2010 - factor failure

Dear list,


factor function was tried but failed.
Pls kindly help and thank you.

E.


code

rm(list=ls())
library(faraway)
data (pima)

pima$test < - factor (pima$test)
  [1] NA NA NA NA NA NA

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On 08/12/2010 08:00 PM, elaine kuo wrote:
> Dear list,
>
>
> factor function was tried but failed.
> Pls kindly help and thank you.
>
> E.
>
>
> code
>
> rm(list=ls())
> library(faraway)
> data (pima)
>
> pima$test<  - factor (pima$test)
>    [1] NA NA NA NA NA NA
The unreported warning message should have given you a
hint.

I'm guessing you want the assignment operator, which is:

<-  (no spaces)

pima$test <- factor(pima$test)

On Aug 12, 2010, at 9:00 PM, elaine kuo wrote:
> Dear list,
>
>
> factor function was tried but failed.
> Pls kindly help and thank you.
>
> E.
>
>
> code
>
> rm(list=ls())
> library(faraway)
> data (pima)
>
> pima$test < - factor (pima$test)
There is a space between your "<" and your "-". R is
interppreting
that as "make a numerical comparison between pima$test on the lhs and  
minus factor(pima$test) on the rhs and quite sensibly saying you have  
given it a nonsensical task.

 > pima$test <- factor (pima$test)
 > str(pima$test)
  Factor w/ 2 levels "0","1": 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2 2 ...
'
>  [1] NA NA NA NA NA NA

-- 
David Winsemius, MD
West Hartford, CT