Using str() in a function. I am in the early phase of learning R, and I find I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what is actually in objects I have created or read in from a file. I'm trying to make a simple little function to display a couple of things about a object, let's say the summary() and the str(), sequentially, preferably without a bunch of surplus lines between them. I have tried a large number of things; none do what I want.
> GG<- c(1,2,3) # This one ignores the str(). > testX <- function(X) {return(summary(X)); str(X)} > testX(GG) Min. 1st Qu. Median Mean 3rd Qu. Max. 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 # So does this one. > testX2 <- function(X) {return(summary(X)); return(str(X))} > testX2(GG) Min. 1st Qu. Median Mean 3rd Qu. Max. 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 # On the other hand, this one ignores the summary() > testX3 <- function(X) {summary(X); return(str(X))} > testX3(GG) num [1:3] 1 2 3 # This one displays both, in reverse order, with a superfluous (to my intentions) [[NULL]]. > testX4 <- function(X) {list(summary(X), (str(X)))} > testX4(GG) num [1:3] 1 2 3 [[1]] Min. 1st Qu. Median Mean 3rd Qu. Max. 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 [[2]] NULL # Now we are back to ignoring the str(). > testX5 <- function(X) {list(return(summary(X)), (str(X)))} > testX5(GG) Min. 1st Qu. Median Mean 3rd Qu. Max. 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 # This does the same as testX4(). > testX6 <- function(X) {return(list(summary(X), (str(X))))} > testX6(GG) num [1:3] 1 2 3 [[1]] Min. 1st Qu. Median Mean 3rd Qu. Max. 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.0 2.5 3.0 [[2]] NULL I tried a bunch more, using the print command, etc., but nothng I tried resulted in the output of summary() followed by the output of str(). And is there really no way to assign the output of str() -- that is to say, the output str() normally prints to the console -- to an object? I would be very greatful for any guidance you could offer. Sincerely, Andrew -- View this message in context: http://r.789695.n4.nabble.com/Using-str-in-a-function-tp3655785p3655785.html Sent from the R help mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________ R-help@r-project.org mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.