[R] import function without overwriting function with the same name

[Ken Knoblauch]

Martin Batholdy <batholdy <at> googlemail.com> writes:
> I have to import multiple R-files.
> Each file consists of several functions with the same 
function name across the R-files.
> When I import all files one by one (with source()) 
I overwrite the function definition of the previous file
> until only the very last function definition lasts.
> However, I need them separately (although 
they have the name, they solve a certain task differently).
> Now I thought about creating a separate environment
for each file / function-group, but I do not know
> upfront how many files I have to import and therefore 
how many different environments I need.
> But since the creation of an environment works 
like variable assignments (myEnv <- new.env()) I cannot
> just loop over the number of files and create x environments.
> What is the best way to solve this problem of importing 
functions without overwriting already existing
> functions with the same name?

There is not really enough of an example to suggest a 
definite solution, but could you read the files with
lapply and return the environment with the functions?
That way you would have a list of environments that
you could access as list elements.  I haven't done this
before but

env.lst <- lapply(1:5, new.env)

seems to work just fine

env.lst
[[1]]
<environment: 0x108928b20>

[[2]]
<environment: 0x1089295f8>

[[3]]
<environment: 0x10892a908>

[[4]]
<environment: 0x10892a438>

[[5]]
<environment: 0x10892aea0>

> Thanks!
> 

-- 
Kenneth Knoblauch
Inserm U846
Stem-cell and Brain Research Institute
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