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Writing Functions in R: A Guide

1. The document describes how to write functions in R by creating a "square" function that takes a number as a parameter, squares it, and returns the answer. 2. It introduces common errors that can occur when writing functions like syntax errors, runtime errors, and logical errors where the function runs but returns the wrong answer. 3. It provides tips on how to debug functions by checking for errors line by line using the workspace or writing output to files. The goal is to create a function that runs properly and returns the correct squared value when called.

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29 views2 pages

Writing Functions in R: A Guide

1. The document describes how to write functions in R by creating a "square" function that takes a number as a parameter, squares it, and returns the answer. 2. It introduces common errors that can occur when writing functions like syntax errors, runtime errors, and logical errors where the function runs but returns the wrong answer. 3. It provides tips on how to debug functions by checking for errors line by line using the workspace or writing output to files. The goal is to create a function that runs properly and returns the correct squared value when called.

Uploaded by

mm1979
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CSSS 508 Spring 2005

How to Write Functions in R


1. Open a text editor (for example, TextPad, Crimson Editor, XEmas!
2. "rite an # f$ntion
%or example,
square <- function(number)
{
answer <- number * number
return(answer)
}
square is t&e name of t&e f$ntion.
function is t&e # f$ntion t&at reates f$ntions.
number is t&e parameter (name of t&e 'al$e! passed to t&e s($are f$ntion.
{ delimits t&e )eginning of t&e f$ntion
} delimits t&e end of t&e f$ntion
return is t&e # f$ntion t&at speifies *&at t&e f$ntion ret$rns,
in t&is example, t&e 'al$e of answer
+. Sa'e t&e file (), on'ention *it& an .# extension!. -n t&is example, t&e file name is
.example.#/.
%or t&is exerise, *e0re going to p$t in some errors in o$r f$ntion. Color oding is as
follo*s1 red for *&at t&e $ser t,pes2 )l$e for response ), #1
square <- function(number)
{
answer <- number * nmber
return(number
}
+. Start #
3. 4se t&e f$ntion source to load ,o$r f$ntion into ,o$r # *or5spae1
> source(example.R)
6ote t&at t&e file name is in ($otes and s&o$ld inl$de eit&er t&e a)sol$te pat&, or t&e pat&
relati'e to t&e loation of ,o$r # *or5spae.
5. # *ill indiate an, .s,ntax/ errors at t&is point and t&e line n$m)er *&ere t&e, are loated.
%or example,
rror in parse(file! n! text! prompt) " s#ntax error on line $
1 &ttp177sde.*as&[Link]$7training7o$rses7sss508
CSSS 508 Spring 2005
8. 9o )a5 to ,o$r text editor and fix t&e error(s!, resa'e t&e file, and reread (so$re! t&e
f$ntion in #.
:. "&en ,o$ get a prompt after .so$ring/ ,o$r file, t&en ,o$ an tr, $sing t&e f$ntion1
> square($)
8. ;t t&is point, ,o$ ma, get a .r$ntime/ error. %or example,
rror in square($) " %b&ect 'nmber' not foun(
<. One again, go )a5 to ,o$r text editor and fix t&e error(s!, resa'e t&e file, and reread (so$re!
t&e f$ntion in #.
10. T&e last 5ind of error ,o$ an get, is *&ere t&e f$ntion r$ns, )$t gi'es t&e *rong ans*er.
%or example,
> square($)
)*+ $
T&ese are often t&e &ardest errors to find )ea$se # an0t &elp ,o$. =o$ &a'en0t done
somet&ing t&at # doesn0t $nderstand, rat&er ,o$0'e made an error telling # *&at to do. # is
doing exatl, *&at ,o$ as5ed, )$t it0s not *&at ,o$ meant. Oftentimes to find t&is error, ,o$
need to go t&ro$g& t&e f$ntion line ), line, 'erif,ing t&e res$lt of ea& line $ntil ,o$ find
,o$r error. =o$ an do t&is eit&er ), feeding ea& line to t&e # *or5spae. Or ), *riting
t&e res$lt of ea& line eit&er to t&e *or5spae or to a file $sing t&e at(! f$ntion.
11. %inall,, after orreting all t&ese errors, ,o$r f$ntion r$ns properl,1
> square($)
)*+ ,$
2 &ttp177sde.*as&[Link]$7training7o$rses7sss508

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