[R] match.call to obtain the name of a function

[Henrique Dallazuanna]

Try this:

foo <- function()
	sprintf("The name of this function is %s", gettext(match.call()))

On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 5:22 PM, Jacob Wegelin <jacobwegelin at fastmail.fm> wrote:
>
> Within a function I'd often like to obtain a text string equal to the name
> of the function.
>
> One use for this: To generate a filename for use in pdf(). This enables me
> to keep track of which function generated a particular graphic came.
>
> match.call() puts parentheses at the end of the name. I don't want
> parentheses in a filename.
>
> The following kludgey function gives the desired result.
>
>> JANK
>
> function(x, y) {
>   one<-deparse(match.call())
>   functionName<-gsub("\\(.*", "", one, perl=T)
>   cat("The name of this function is ", functionName, "\n")
> }
>>
>> JANK(55, pi^2)
>
> The name of this function is  JANK
>>
>> JANK()
>
> The name of this function is  JANK
>
> Is there not a more direct way? To paraphrase Douglas Bates, the above
> approach is like the diner scene in the movie "Five Easy Pieces". You get an
> order of toast by first ordering a chicken sandwich and then telling the
> waitress to hold (that is, to subtract) the meat, lettuce, and mayonnaise.
>
> Thanks for any insights
>
> Jacob Wegelin
>
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-- 
Henrique Dallazuanna
Curitiba-Paraná-Brasil
25° 25' 40" S 49° 16' 22" O