[R] variable number of variables in data frames

[Laurent Gautier]

Kevin Murphy wrote:

> I would like to specify that certain columns in a data frame should be
> treated as ordered factors. I know what numbers these columns are, but
> not their names.
> How do I do this?
>
> For example, if I know columns 1:4 are to be treated as factors, I can
> write
>
> dat <- matrix(c(2,1,1,1, 1,1,1,1), 2, 4)
> D <- as.data.frame(dat)
> # force all variables to be treated as binary
> # regardless of the small data set
> D$V1 <- factor(D$V1, 1:2)
> D$V2 <- factor(D$V2, 1:2)
> D$V3 <- factor(D$V3, 1:2)
> D$V4 <- factor(D$V4, 1:2)
>
> But how do I do this in general? What I would like to say is something
> like
>
> for (i in my.factor.columns) {
>   D$Vi <- factor(D$Vi, 1:my.nlevels[i])
> }
>
> Presumably I could do something tricky using eval, but I don't know how.
> Besides, I'd prefer to avoid eval, since it is slow.
> (Also, I don't want to rely on the fact that the columns are named "Vnn"
> by default.)
>
> Kevin






What about:

> dat <- matrix(c(2,1,1,1, 1,1,1,1), 2, 4)
> D <- as.data.frame(dat)
> makefactor <- function(d,index) { d[index] <- sapply(d[index],factor); return(d)
}
> # say one wants the two first columns to be factors
> index <- c(1,2)
> str(makefactor(D,index))



Regards,



Laurent










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--
Laurent Gautier                 CBS, Building 208, DTU
PhD. Student                    D-2800 Lyngby,Denmark
tel: +45 45 25 24 85            http://www.cbs.dtu.dk/laurent


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