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Outputing dataframe or vector from within a user defined function

2 messages · Andrew Cox, Uwe Ligges

Andrew Cox
# 
Hi,
I have written a user defined function that carries
out a monte carlo simulation and outputs various
stats. I would like to access and store the simulation
data (a two column local variable) from outside the
function I have written. How can I output the data
from the function as new variable(not simply print
it), accessible outside
the function? 

I am probably going to find that this is really
simple, yet I have not been able to find the answer in
(usual places, manuals, 2 x Books and mailing lists)

Many Thanks 
Andy Cox
Uwe Ligges
#
Andrew Cox wrote:

            

      
      
      
    

        
It's certainly in all books about R that I know as well as in the 
manuals. And you are using it all the time for other functions: assignments.

Simply speaking, the last value of a function is returned. You can also 
explicitly call return(). You have to assign the value to a new variable 
when you call the function. Example:

foo <- function(){
   x <- rnorm(10)
   y <- x*5
   return(list(x=x, y=y))
}

result <- foo()
result

Uwe Ligges