Hi:
names() typically has to do with the names associated with
*components* of a data frame or list, which appears to be what you
have, reading between the lines. Here's a toy example:
> mydf <- data.frame(a = rnorm(5))
> mydf
a
1 1.291952883
2 -0.136706733
3 0.219528682
4 -0.174832617
5 -0.003101679> names(mydf) <- 'b'
## b is a variable name within the data frame mydf, not the global
environment:> b
Error: object 'b' not found> mydf$b ## or equivalentally/preferably, mydf[['b']]
[1] 1.291952883 -0.136706733 0.219528682 -0.174832617
-0.003101679> mydf
b
1 1.291952883
2 -0.136706733
3 0.219528682
...
# OTOH,> b <- mydf
> b
b
1 1.291952883
2 -0.136706733
3 0.219528682
...
so by assigning mydf to an object named b, you can change the name of
mydf. Note, however, that mydf still exists; b is a copy of mydf.
rm(mydf) would remove the original in favor of the newly named copy.
HTH,
Dennis
On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 4:04 AM, mosojn <marta.osojnik at gmail.com>
wrote:> Hi guys,
>
> I checked previous posts and I saw similar questions have been answered;
> they didn't help me solve my problem though. I am using R version
2.13.0
> (2011-04-13), Platform: x86_64-pc-mingw32/x64 (64-bit) and I am having
> difficulties renaming variables. I tried with this command:
>
> names (oldvariable) <- 'new_variable'
>
> and now when I type in oldvariable the new name pops out in form: [1]
> "new_variable" BUT when I try typing in new_variable I get the
message
>
> Error: object 'new_variable' not found
>
> I also tried with fix(mydata) command, but editor basically opens up empty,
> so I don't understand why this is happening.
>
> If you know how to advise me, I'll be grateful.
>
> Thank you!
>
> Marta
>
> --
> View this message in context:
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> Sent from the R help mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
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