[R] combining tables

[Robin Hankin]

Hi

Suppose I have two tables of counts of different animals and I
wish to pool them so the total of the sum is the sum of the total.

Toy example follows (the real ones are ~10^3 species and ~10^6  
individuals).
x and y are zoos that have merged and I need a combined inventory
including animals that are temporarily absent.


 > (x <- as.table(c(cats=3,squid=7,pigs=2,dogs=1,slugs=0)))
cats squid  pigs  dogs slugs
     3     7     2     1     0
 > (y <- as.table(c(cats=4,dogs=5,slugs=3,crabs=0)))
cats  dogs slugs crabs
     4     5     3     0
 > (desired.output <- as.table(c 
(cats=7,squid=7,pigs=2,dogs=6,slugs=3,crabs=0)))
cats squid  pigs  dogs slugs crabs
     7     7     2     6     3     0
 >




Note that we have 7 cats altogether, and the crabs correctly show
as zero counts.


How to do this nicely in R?




--
Robin Hankin
Uncertainty Analyst
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
European Way, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK
  tel  023-8059-7743