column names in matrix vs. data frame in R 1.8
...
Ok, I'll regard it as an inconsistency that the conversion of
dimnames
to data frame column names changes reserved words to legitimate
names
but direct assignment doesn't.
It's not inconsistent. data.frame has an argument `check.names' to control the behaviour on *creating* a data frame, and you didn't
consult
the documentation. Using the function names<- on the list underlying
the
data frame does not know or care it is applied to a data frame.
After thinking about this, I guess I wonder why names<- shouldn't have the argument 'check.names' and/or check the class of its main argument. Why offer protection in one situation and not another?