On Fri, 24 Oct 2003, Robin Hankin wrote: > Hi everyone. > > look at this: > > x <- 1:4 > x[c(1,2,1)] <- (1:3) > print(x[1]) > > I get 3, but isn't NA more appropriate? [1 would be as sensible]. > FWIW, the equivalent Fortran 95 statement is flagged as an error. > R-intro, section 2.7, says that in such cases the assignment is > carried out "in order" which might support getting 3. > > To my way of thinking, the concept of "in order" seems to violate the > usual strategy of considering vectors as whole entities---because in > this case we have to specify whether the assignment starts at > c(1,2,1)[1] and proceeds to c(1,2,1)[3], or starts at c(1,2,1)[3] and > proceeds to c(1,2,1)[1]. And the results are different! > > > What is the R position on this?
That this is correct and works as documented! It is occasionally useful. R implements the S language, not Fortran 95, so consult the S references please. -- Brian D. Ripley, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Professor of Applied Statistics, http://www.stats.ox.ac.uk/~ripley/ University of Oxford, Tel: +44 1865 272861 (self) 1 South Parks Road, +44 1865 272866 (PA) Oxford OX1 3TG, UK Fax: +44 1865 272595 ______________________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list https://www.stat.math.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
