Thomas L Jones, PhD wrote: > Difficulty handling NA's: > Assume that I have a numeric vector y. For simplicity, assume that it has 10 > elements. Assume that the third element has the value NA. I give it the > following: > NA_test <- function (){ > y <- numeric (10) > y [3] <- NA > if (y [3] != NA){(print ("no")} > print ("Leaving NA_test") > return () > }# End of function > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > Unfortunately, things become confused involving the NA element. > Here is the output, starting with the loading process: > > ---------------------------------------------------------- >> NA_test <- function (){ > + y <- numeric (10) > + y [3] <- NA > + if (y [3] != NA){(print ("no")} > Error: syntax error in: > "y [3] <- NA > if (y [3] != NA){(print ("no")}" >> print ("Leaving NA_test") > [1] "Leaving NA_test" >> return () > Error: no function to return from, jumping to top level >> }# End of function > Error: syntax error in "}" > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > I have enclosed the print operation in braces to avoid possible problems > with it. > > Your advice? > > Tom Jones
What Messrs. Schwartz and Olshansky told you is valid, but will not cure syntax errors. My advice is to check the matching of parentheses in the line > if (y [3] != NA){(print ("no")} J. R. M. Hosking ______________________________________________ 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.