[Rd] RFC: type conversion in read.table
A.J. Rossini
rossini@u.washington.edu
31 Aug 2001 05:20:33 -0700
>>>>> "BDR" == Brian D Ripley <Prof> writes:
>> I would also be happier if we did not refer to the variables
>> explicitly as `columns'. (This sounds a bit stupid from the
>> person who wrote write.table and introduced arguments
>> `row.names' and `col.names'. Although, at least one of these
>> was modelled after an existing function). E.g. something like
>>
>> read.table(......, caseNames, varNames, varClasses, .....)
>>
>> would be nice ...
BDR> The problem is that what is being referred to *is* columns
BDR> and not variables. If you have row names on the file, the
BDR> numbering is different. So it matters to use sufficiently
BDR> precise terminology.
I would tend to agree with Brian. To me, caseNames / varNames
sounds a rather bit arrogant, since there are a number of other
"formats" (contingency tables come to mind) for which read.table is
one possible way for slurping in the data prior to munging it, though
I guess one could argue that this is an abuse of tools.
best,
-tony
--
A.J. Rossini Rsrch. Asst. Prof. of Biostatistics
U. of Washington Biostatistics rossini@u.washington.edu
FHCRC/SCHARP/HIV Vaccine Trials Net rossini@scharp.org
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