[R] Resolving conflicting function definitions {was "Error in rm.outlier"}

[Martin Maechler]

>>>>> "Marc" == Marc Schwartz (via MN) <mschwartz at mn.rr.com>
>>>>>     on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:38:53 -0500 writes:

    Marc> Sachin, I don't have a definitive thought, but some
    Marc> possibilities might be a conflict somewhere in your
    Marc> environment with a local function or with one in the
    Marc> searchpath.

    Marc> Use ls() to review the current objects in your
    Marc> environment to see if something looks suspicious. It
    Marc> did not look like 'outliers' is using a namespace, so
    Marc> a conflict of some nature is a little more possible
    Marc> here.

    Marc> Also use searchpaths() to get a feel for where R is
    Marc> searching for the function. See what is getting
    Marc> searched "above" the outliers package in the search
    Marc> order, which might provide a clue.

    Marc> Also, try to start R from the command line using 'R
    Marc> --vanilla', which should give you a clean working
    Marc> environment. Then use library(outliers) and your code
    Marc> below to see if the same behavior is present. If so,
    Marc> perhaps there was a corruption in the package
    Marc> installation. If not, it would support some type of
    Marc> conflict or perhaps a corruption in your default
    Marc> working environment.

Another possibility -- the one I use first in such circumstances --
is
	conflicts()

a good ol' function that seems not be as known as it maybe
should.

Martin Maechler, ETH Zurich