Hi.
I have been pondering array indexing via matrices.
> a <- array(1:27,rep(3,3))
> index <- matrix(c(1,1,1,1,2,3),2,3,byrow=TRUE)
> a[index]
[1] 1 22
as expected and documented. But what was the thinking
behind the decision to access the array by rows rather
than columns?
The 'index' matrix is ordered as [1,1,1,2,1,3] and so
the extraction is a[index[c(1,3,5)]] for the first element
and a[index[c(2,3,6)]] for the second.
If the indexing was by columns then we would have
<fantasy>
> a <- array(1:27,rep(3,3))
> index <- matrix(c(1,1,1,1,2,3),2,3)
> a[index]
[1] 1 22
</fantasy>
Thus the extraction is a[index[1:3]] and a[index[4:6]].
This seems to be a sensible way of going about array indexing.
For example, even *defining* the 'index'
matrix is simpler.
So, what is the thinking behind the behaviour as implemented?
I'm asking because I want to understand the thinking behind the
decision.
rksh
--
Robin K. S. Hankin
Uncertainty Analyst
University of Cambridge
19 Silver Street
Cambridge CB3 9EP
01223-764877
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