length of `...`

In R-3.5.0 you can use ...length():
  > f <- function(..., n) ...length()
  > f(stop("one"), stop("two"), stop("three"), n=7)
  [1] 3

Prior to that substitute() is the way to go
  > g <- function(..., n) length(substitute(...()))
  > g(stop("one"), stop("two"), stop("three"), n=7)
  [1] 3

R-3.5.0 also has the ...elt(n) function, which returns
the evaluated n'th entry in ... , without evaluating the
other ... entries.
  > fn <- function(..., n) ...elt(n)
  > fn(stop("one"), 3*5, stop("three"), n=2)
  [1] 15

Prior to 3.5.0, eval the appropriate component of the output
of substitute() in the appropriate environment:
  > gn <- function(..., n) {
  +   nthExpr <- substitute(...())[[n]]
  +   eval(nthExpr, envir=parent.frame())
  + }
  > gn(stop("one"), environment(), stop("two"), n=2)
  <environment: R_GlobalEnv>




Bill Dunlap
TIBCO Software
wdunlap tibco.com

Hi,


In some cases the number of arguments passed as ... must be determined
inside a function, without evaluating the arguments themselves. I use the
following construct:

dotlength <- function(...) length(substitute(expression(...))) - 1L

# Usage (returns 3):
dotlength(1, 4, something = undefined)

How can I define a method for length() which could be called directly on
`...`? Or is it an intention to extend the base length() function to accept
ellipses?


Regards,
Denes

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