knowing the code-number of factors in a vector

boxplot(x~rfactor, col=c("2", "6", "3","5","4"))

Hi,

I would like to know how R assigns the numeric code to a set of factors 
in a vector. For example, I have a vector of 5 different factors in a 
random order, and I want a color-coded plot by factors:

rfactor=as.factor(sample(letters[1:5], 50, replace=T))
rfactor
  [1] c c c d b a b d d a a e e b b e c e e a a b b b a b a e a a b d b 
b c a b b
[39] d c a e c d e d a a a a
Levels: a b c d e

x=rnorm(50)
boxplot(x~rfactor, col=1:5)

So, colors 1 to 5 are assigned to factors alphabetically (a-1, b-2, ..., 
e-5), or by order of appearance (c-1, d-2, b-3, a-4, e-5)? It is 
possible to control that?

Saludos, EKS

I would like to know how R assigns the numeric code to a set of factors 
in a vector. 

It seems to be dependent upon the the character ("assigned alphabetically") which I found out by manually changing the order of appearance of the characters in rfactor; the colour would stick to the character "a", whether this appears first in rfactor or not.

I as able to control the colours being used by

boxplot(x~rfactor, col=c("2", "6", "3","5","4"))

Rgds,
Rainer

Disclaimer:
I'm new to R and very early on the learning curve - just trying my best...


On Saturday 04 December 2010 01:22:56 Eduardo Klein wrote:

Hi,

I would like to know how R assigns the numeric code to a set of factors
in a vector. For example, I have a vector of 5 different factors in a
random order, and I want a color-coded plot by factors:

rfactor=as.factor(sample(letters[1:5], 50, replace=T))
rfactor
   [1] c c c d b a b d d a a e e b b e c e e a a b b b a b a e a a b d b
b c a b b
[39] d c a e c d e d a a a a
Levels: a b c d e

x=rnorm(50)
boxplot(x~rfactor, col=1:5)

So, colors 1 to 5 are assigned to factors alphabetically (a-1, b-2, ...,
e-5), or by order of appearance (c-1, d-2, b-3, a-4, e-5)? It is
possible to control that?

Saludos, EKS