[R] Does the function "c" have a character limit?

Wed Jul 13 08:26:41 CEST 2022

I think the restriction is not specific to `c` but rather is a limitation on the length of expressions. My foggy memory is that the limit is in the 450-500 character vicinity. Pretty sure it’s been discussed here in the past. 

— 
David. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jul 12, 2022, at 11:13 PM, core_contingency <ccontingency using gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> To Whom it May Concern,
> 
> I am creating a vector with the base R function "c", with many arguments as shown below:
> 
>      $ R
>      > MES = c("A2M", "ABRACL", "ACADVL", "ACAP2", "ACTA2", "ACTN1", "ADAM19", "ADAM9", "ADAMTS5", "ADGRE5", "ADGRG6", "AEBP1", "AJUBA", "ALDH1A3", "AMMECR1", "ANTXR1", "ANXA1", "ANXA2", "ANXA5", "ANXA6", "APOE", "APP", "ARHGAP1", "ARHGEF40", "ARL1", "ARL4A", "ARMCX2", "ARPC1B", "ASPH", "ATP10D", "ATP1B1", "ATP2B1", "ATP2B4", "ATP6V0E1", "ATP8B2", "ATXN1", "B2M", "BAG3", "BGN", "BMP5", "BNC2", "BOC", "BTN3A2", "C1orf198", "C1orf54", "C4orf32", "C6orf120", "CALD1", "CALU", "CAPN2", "CAPN6", "CBFB", "CBLB", "CCDC80", "CD164", "CD44", "CD59", "CD63", "CDH11", "CETN2", "CFH", "CFI", "CILP", "CKAP4", "CLIC4", "CMTM3", "CMTM6", "CNN3", "COL11A1", "COL12A1", "COL1A1", "COL27A1", "COL3A1", "COL4A1", "COL4A2", "COL5A1", "COL5A2", "COL6A1", "COL6A2", "COL6A3", "COPA", "CPED1", "CPS1", "CRABP2", "CREB3L2", "CREG1", "CRELD2", "CRISPLD1", "CRTAP", "CSRP1", "CTDSP2", "CTNNA1", "CTSB", "CTSC", "CTSO", "CXCL12", "CYBRD1", "CYFIP1", "CYP26A1", "CYR61", "DCAF6", "DDOST", "DDR2", "DESI2", "DKK3", "DLC1", "DLX1", "DLX2", "DMD", "DNAJC1", "DNAJC10", "DNAJC3", "DNM3OS", "DPY19L1", "DSE", "DUSP14", "DUSP5", "DUSP6", "EDEM1", "EDNRA", "EFEMP2", "EGFR", "EGR1", "EGR3", "EHD2", "ELAVL1", "ELF1", "ELK3", "ELK4", "EMILIN1", "EMP1", "ENAH", "EPHA3", "EPS8", "ERBIN", "ERLIN1", "ERRFI1", "ETS1", "EVA1A", "EXT1", "EXTL2", "F2R", "F2RL2", "FAM102B", "FAM114A1", "FAM120A", "FAM129A", "FAM3C", "FAM43A", "FAM46A", "FAT1", "FBN1", "FBN2", "FGFR1", "FIBIN", "FILIP1L", "FKBP14", "FLNA", "FLRT2", "FMOD", "FN1", "FNDC3B", "FSTL1", "FUCA2", "FZD1", "FZD2", "FZD7", "GABRR1", "GALNT10", "GAS1", "GAS2", "GDF15", "GJA1", "GNAI1", "GNG12", "GNS", "GORAB", "GPC6", "GPR137B", "GPX8", "GRN", "GSN", "HES1", "HEXB", "HIBADH", "HIPK3", "HIST1H2AC", "HIST1H2BK", "HLA-A", "HLA-B", "HLA-C", "HLA-F", "HLX", "HNMT", "HOMER1", "HS3ST3A1", "HSP90B1", "HSPA5", "HSPB1", "HTRA1", "HYOU1", "ID1", "ID3", "IFI16", "IFITM2", "IFITM3", "IGF2R", "IGFBP5", "IGFBP6", "IL13RA1", "IL6ST", "INSIG1", "IQGAP2", "ITGA10", "ITGA4", "ITGAV", "ITGB1", "ITM2B", "ITM2C", "ITPR1", "ITPRIPL2", "JAK1", "JAM3", "KANK2", "KCNK2", "KCTD12", "KDELC2", "KDELR2", "KDELR3", "KDM5B", "KIAA1462", "KIF13A", "KIRREL", "KLF10", "KLF4", "KLF6", "L3HYPDH", "LAMB1", "LAMC1", "LAMP1", "LAPTM4A", "LASP1", "LATS2", "LEPROT", "LGALS1", "LHFP", "LHX8", "LIFR", "LIPA", "LITAF", "LIX1L", "LMAN1", "LMNA", "LOXL2", "LPP", "LRP10", "LRRC17", "LRRC8C", "LTBP1", "LUZP1", "MAGT1", "MAML2", "MAN2A1", "MANF", "MBD2", "MBNL1", "MBTPS1", "MEOX1", "MEOX2", "MEST", "MGAT2", "MGP", "MGST1", "MICAL2", "MMP2", "MOB1A", "MRC2", "MXRA5", "MYADM", "MYDGF", "MYL12A", "MYL12B", "MYLIP", "NANS", "NBR1", "NEK7", "NES", "NFIA", "NFIC", "NID1", "NID2", "NOTCH2", "NOTCH2NL", "NPC2", "NPTN", "NQO1", "NR3C1", "NRP1", "OGFRL1", "OLFML2A", "OLFML2B", "OLFML3", "OSTC", "P4HA1", "PALLD", "PAPSS2", "PCDH18", "PCOLCE2", "PCSK5", "PDE3A", "PDE7B", "PDGFC", "PDIA3", "PDIA4", "PDIA6", "PDLIM1", "PEA15", "PEAK1", "PHLDA3", "PHLDB2", "PHTF2", "PIAS3", "PLAGL1", "PLEKHA2", "PLEKHH2", "PLK2", "PLOD2", "PLOD3", "PLPP1", "PLS3", "PLSCR1", "PLSCR4", "PLXDC2", "POLR2L", "PON2", "POSTN", "PPIB", "PPIC", "PPT1", "PRCP", "PRDM6", "PRDX4", "PRDX6", "PROM1", "PRRX1", "PTBP1", "PTGER4", "PTGFRN", "PTN", "PTPN14", "PTPRG", "PTPRK", "PTRF", "PXDC1", "PXDN", "PYGL", "QKI", "QSOX1", "RAB13", "RAB29", "RAB31", "RAP1A", "RAP1B", "RBMS1", "RCN1", "RECK", "REST", "RGL1", "RGS10", "RGS3", "RHOC", "RHOJ", "RIN2", "RIT1", "RNFT1", "RNH1", "ROBO1", "ROR1", "RRBP1", "S1PR3", "SASH1", "SCPEP1", "SCRG1", "SDC2", "SDC4", "SDCBP", "SDF4", "SEC14L1", "SEL1L3", "SEMA3C", "SEMA3F", "SEPT10", "SERPINE2", "SERPINH1", "SFT2D1", "SFT2D2", "SGK1", "SH3BGRL", "SHC1", "SHROOM3", "SIX1", "SIX4", "SKIL", "SLC16A4", "SLC30A1", "SLC30A7", "SLC35F5", "SLC38A2", "SLC38A6", "SLC39A14", "SMAD3", "SNAI2", "SNAP23", "SOSTDC1", "SOX9", "SPARC", "SPARCL1", "SPATA20", "SPCS3", "SPRED1", "SPRY1", "SPRY4", "SPRY4-IT1", "SQSTM1", "SRPX", "SSBP4", "SSR1", "SSR3", "STAT1", "STAT3", "STEAP1", "STK38L", "SUCLG2", "SURF4", "SVIL", "SYDE1", "SYNJ2", "SYPL1", "TCF7L2", "TFE3", "TFPI", "TGFB1I1", "TGFBR2", "THBS1", "TIMP1", "TJP1")
>      +
> 
> For some reason, the R console does not display a ">" symbol, indicating that it has completed the function, but displays a "+" symbol instead, which indicates that the function is still waiting for more input. However, I believe that my syntax is correct. If I shorten my command by a few characters by removing the last entry, "TJP1":
> 
>      $ R
>      > MES = c("A2M", "ABRACL", "ACADVL", "ACAP2", "ACTA2", "ACTN1", "ADAM19", "ADAM9", "ADAMTS5", "ADGRE5", "ADGRG6", "AEBP1", "AJUBA", "ALDH1A3", "AMMECR1", "ANTXR1", "ANXA1", "ANXA2", "ANXA5", "ANXA6", "APOE", "APP", "ARHGAP1", "ARHGEF40", "ARL1", "ARL4A", "ARMCX2", "ARPC1B", "ASPH", "ATP10D", "ATP1B1", "ATP2B1", "ATP2B4", "ATP6V0E1", "ATP8B2", "ATXN1", "B2M", "BAG3", "BGN", "BMP5", "BNC2", "BOC", "BTN3A2", "C1orf198", "C1orf54", "C4orf32", "C6orf120", "CALD1", "CALU", "CAPN2", "CAPN6", "CBFB", "CBLB", "CCDC80", "CD164", "CD44", "CD59", "CD63", "CDH11", "CETN2", "CFH", "CFI", "CILP", "CKAP4", "CLIC4", "CMTM3", "CMTM6", "CNN3", "COL11A1", "COL12A1", "COL1A1", "COL27A1", "COL3A1", "COL4A1", "COL4A2", "COL5A1", "COL5A2", "COL6A1", "COL6A2", "COL6A3", "COPA", "CPED1", "CPS1", "CRABP2", "CREB3L2", "CREG1", "CRELD2", "CRISPLD1", "CRTAP", "CSRP1", "CTDSP2", "CTNNA1", "CTSB", "CTSC", "CTSO", "CXCL12", "CYBRD1", "CYFIP1", "CYP26A1", "CYR61", "DCAF6", "DDOST", "DDR2", "DESI2", "DKK3", "DLC1", "DLX1", "DLX2", "DMD", "DNAJC1", "DNAJC10", "DNAJC3", "DNM3OS", "DPY19L1", "DSE", "DUSP14", "DUSP5", "DUSP6", "EDEM1", "EDNRA", "EFEMP2", "EGFR", "EGR1", "EGR3", "EHD2", "ELAVL1", "ELF1", "ELK3", "ELK4", "EMILIN1", "EMP1", "ENAH", "EPHA3", "EPS8", "ERBIN", "ERLIN1", "ERRFI1", "ETS1", "EVA1A", "EXT1", "EXTL2", "F2R", "F2RL2", "FAM102B", "FAM114A1", "FAM120A", "FAM129A", "FAM3C", "FAM43A", "FAM46A", "FAT1", "FBN1", "FBN2", "FGFR1", "FIBIN", "FILIP1L", "FKBP14", "FLNA", "FLRT2", "FMOD", "FN1", "FNDC3B", "FSTL1", "FUCA2", "FZD1", "FZD2", "FZD7", "GABRR1", "GALNT10", "GAS1", "GAS2", "GDF15", "GJA1", "GNAI1", "GNG12", "GNS", "GORAB", "GPC6", "GPR137B", "GPX8", "GRN", "GSN", "HES1", "HEXB", "HIBADH", "HIPK3", "HIST1H2AC", "HIST1H2BK", "HLA-A", "HLA-B", "HLA-C", "HLA-F", "HLX", "HNMT", "HOMER1", "HS3ST3A1", "HSP90B1", "HSPA5", "HSPB1", "HTRA1", "HYOU1", "ID1", "ID3", "IFI16", "IFITM2", "IFITM3", "IGF2R", "IGFBP5", "IGFBP6", "IL13RA1", "IL6ST", "INSIG1", "IQGAP2", "ITGA10", "ITGA4", "ITGAV", "ITGB1", "ITM2B", "ITM2C", "ITPR1", "ITPRIPL2", "JAK1", "JAM3", "KANK2", "KCNK2", "KCTD12", "KDELC2", "KDELR2", "KDELR3", "KDM5B", "KIAA1462", "KIF13A", "KIRREL", "KLF10", "KLF4", "KLF6", "L3HYPDH", "LAMB1", "LAMC1", "LAMP1", "LAPTM4A", "LASP1", "LATS2", "LEPROT", "LGALS1", "LHFP", "LHX8", "LIFR", "LIPA", "LITAF", "LIX1L", "LMAN1", "LMNA", "LOXL2", "LPP", "LRP10", "LRRC17", "LRRC8C", "LTBP1", "LUZP1", "MAGT1", "MAML2", "MAN2A1", "MANF", "MBD2", "MBNL1", "MBTPS1", "MEOX1", "MEOX2", "MEST", "MGAT2", "MGP", "MGST1", "MICAL2", "MMP2", "MOB1A", "MRC2", "MXRA5", "MYADM", "MYDGF", "MYL12A", "MYL12B", "MYLIP", "NANS", "NBR1", "NEK7", "NES", "NFIA", "NFIC", "NID1", "NID2", "NOTCH2", "NOTCH2NL", "NPC2", "NPTN", "NQO1", "NR3C1", "NRP1", "OGFRL1", "OLFML2A", "OLFML2B", "OLFML3", "OSTC", "P4HA1", "PALLD", "PAPSS2", "PCDH18", "PCOLCE2", "PCSK5", "PDE3A", "PDE7B", "PDGFC", "PDIA3", "PDIA4", "PDIA6", "PDLIM1", "PEA15", "PEAK1", "PHLDA3", "PHLDB2", "PHTF2", "PIAS3", "PLAGL1", "PLEKHA2", "PLEKHH2", "PLK2", "PLOD2", "PLOD3", "PLPP1", "PLS3", "PLSCR1", "PLSCR4", "PLXDC2", "POLR2L", "PON2", "POSTN", "PPIB", "PPIC", "PPT1", "PRCP", "PRDM6", "PRDX4", "PRDX6", "PROM1", "PRRX1", "PTBP1", "PTGER4", "PTGFRN", "PTN", "PTPN14", "PTPRG", "PTPRK", "PTRF", "PXDC1", "PXDN", "PYGL", "QKI", "QSOX1", "RAB13", "RAB29", "RAB31", "RAP1A", "RAP1B", "RBMS1", "RCN1", "RECK", "REST", "RGL1", "RGS10", "RGS3", "RHOC", "RHOJ", "RIN2", "RIT1", "RNFT1", "RNH1", "ROBO1", "ROR1", "RRBP1", "S1PR3", "SASH1", "SCPEP1", "SCRG1", "SDC2", "SDC4", "SDCBP", "SDF4", "SEC14L1", "SEL1L3", "SEMA3C", "SEMA3F", "SEPT10", "SERPINE2", "SERPINH1", "SFT2D1", "SFT2D2", "SGK1", "SH3BGRL", "SHC1", "SHROOM3", "SIX1", "SIX4", "SKIL", "SLC16A4", "SLC30A1", "SLC30A7", "SLC35F5", "SLC38A2", "SLC38A6", "SLC39A14", "SMAD3", "SNAI2", "SNAP23", "SOSTDC1", "SOX9", "SPARC", "SPARCL1", "SPATA20", "SPCS3", "SPRED1", "SPRY1", "SPRY4", "SPRY4-IT1", "SQSTM1", "SRPX", "SSBP4", "SSR1", "SSR3", "STAT1", "STAT3", "STEAP1", "STK38L", "SUCLG2", "SURF4", "SVIL", "SYDE1", "SYNJ2", "SYPL1", "TCF7L2", "TFE3", "TFPI", "TGFB1I1", "TGFBR2", "THBS1", "TIMP1")
>      >
> 
> The function now works, and returns a ">" symbol, indicating that the function completed successfully. The ls() function proves it:
> 
>      $ R
>      > ls()
>      [1] "MES"
> 
> Is this a bug in the base R "c" function? It seems like the "c" function can only accept so many characters before it fails.
> 
> Thank you for your time,
> core_contingency
> 
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