Some functions in R need quoted arguments. Consider this list:
help(rm)
rm(a)
is.na(a)
get("rm")
exists("rm")
Can someone explain why 'get' and 'exists' require quoted object names?
Would it make sense (more consistency) to have these functions check to see if the
first argument is a string, and if not, then 'substitute' it? Intuitively, 'exists'
is checking to see if an object exists, not to see if a character string exists.
Evidently my intuition is wrong.
I can see that 'get' might need to have the option of using quotes, for example,
get("?") or get("*"). However, look at this:
> is.function(?)
Error: syntax error
> is.function("?")
[1] FALSE
I grow used to not quoting things and then stumble over 'exists' from time to time.
Looking forward to clarity or maybe a request for change.
Kevin Wright
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