[R] Automating object creation

[Stavros Macrakis]

It is certainly possible to create x2, x4, etc. using something like
assign( sprintf("x%d",i), ...value... ).

But are you sure you need separate *variables* x2, x4, etc.?  Why not
create a list of vectors addressible as x[2] etc.?

You can do that with x <- list() (to define the data type of x as
allowing generic objects) then x[2] <- ... value ... etc.

            -s

On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 1:32 PM, Zachary Patterson
<zak.patterson at gmail.com> wrote:
> I am new to R. I would like to automate the creation of a number of
> vectors but can't seem to get the string formatting to work.
>
> Here's what I would like to be able to do:
>
> Suppose we have a vector:
> x <- c(2,4,5)
>
> I would like to be able to create a set of vectors whose names are
> associated with the values in x - e.g.
>
> x2 <- 0
> x4 <- 0
> x5 <- 0
>
> I have tried with a for loop and eval and sprintf, paste, etc. but end
> up with the following error:
>
> Error in sprintf("%s%i", "x", 1) <- 0 :
>  target of assignment expands to non-language object
>
> How can I assign a string formatted name to a vector?
>
> Any help appreciated,
> Zak
>
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