svMisc (version 0.9-46)

def: Define a vector of a given mode and length (possibly filling it with default values)

Description

This function makes sure that a vector of a given mode and length is returned. If the value provided is NULL, NA, or empty, a default value is used instead. If length = NULL, the length of the vector is not constrained, otherwise, it is fixed (possibly cutting or recycling value).

Usage

def(value, default = "", mode = "character", length = NULL)

Arguments

value

the value to pass with default

default

the default value to use, in case of NULL, NA, or length == 0

mode

the mode of the result: character, logical, numeric, complex or factor. Other modes are NOT coerced!

length

the desired length of the returned vector; use length = NULL (default) if you don't want to change the length of the vector, i.e., keep same length as value.

Value

• A vector of given mode and length, with either value or default.

See Also

getTemp, assignTemp

Examples

def(1:3, length = 5)	                  # Convert into character and recycle
def(0:2, mode = "logical")                # Numbers to logical
def(c("TRUE", "FALSE"), mode = "logical") # Text to logical
def(NULL, "default text")                 # Default value used
def(character(0), "default text")         # Idem
def(NA, 10, mode = "numeric", length = 2) # Vector of two numbers