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question about attaching data

2 messages · Pancho Mulongeni, Gerrit Eichner

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Hi I just would like to know,
When I have a dataframe, like this one called 'dummy'
And I attach it.
Then I run my code. 
I then update the dataframe by making changes and I still call it 'dummy'.
I run my code again.
Now dummy is at position 1 and position 2 of the search path and if I run the code again, with another version of 'dummy' it updates and eventually my search path looks like this
[1] ".GlobalEnv"        "dummy"             "dummy"            
 [4] "dummy"             "package:stats"     "package:graphics" 
 [7] "package:grDevices" "package:datasets"  "package:rcom"     
[10] "package:rscproxy"  "package:utils"     "package:methods"  
[13] "RExcelEnv"         "Autoloads"         "package:base"

I get the correct data, as the previous versions of dummy are 'masked from the search path'. What stops me from continuing this process ad infinitum?
What's the use of detaching dummy using detach()?
Thanks


Pancho Mulongeni
Research Assistant
PharmAccess Foundation
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Windhoek
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Hi, Pancho,

1. Quote:
2. Changes of variables of attached data frames are -- usually -- not 
permanent (i.e., "disappear" when the data frame is detached again).

3. The of use detach( dummy) is to detach the data frame named "dummy" 
from the search path, i.e., to take it out of the search path agin.

4. No one is going to stop you "from continuing this process ad infinitum" 
except yourself. ;-)

HtH  -- Gerrit
On Thu, 28 Mar 2013, Pancho Mulongeni wrote: