[R] identical function names from 2 packages

[Duncan Murdoch]

On 18/05/2011 10:02 PM, Nick Matzke wrote:
> Hi,
>
> If I load 2 packages that have a function with the same
> name, how do I tell R to run one or the other?
>
> (Instead of having R automatically use the first- or
> last-loaded one, whichever it is.  (Which is it, by the way.))
>
> Cheers!
> Nick
>
>

It is the most recently attached one that would be chosen by default. 
Generally that's also most recently loaded, but there can be exceptions.

Others have pointed out that :: is used to specify the package to use. 
If you use that, you don't need to have the package attached:  it will 
be loaded but won't show up in the search path.

If you are using a package without a namespace, expect problems.  Having 
the namespace is nearly as good as automatically adding the pkg:: prefix 
to every call from functions within the package.  Not having the 
namespace is nearly as bad as never using the prefix, even when you should.

Duncan Murdoch