RinAction - R Functions - User-Written Functions

gistfile1.r

#####################################################
# ---------- User Written Function -----------------#
# - objects in the function are local to the function
# - object returned can be any data type
#####################################################

mystats <- function(x, parametric=TRUE, print=FALSE) {
  if (parametric) {
    center <- mean(x); spread <- sd(x) 
  } else {
    center <- median(x); spread <- mad(x) 
  }
  if (print & parametric) {
    cat("Mean=", center, "\n", "SD=", spread, "\n")
  } else if (print & !parametric) {
    cat("Median=", center, "\n", "MAD=", spread, "\n")
  }
  result <- list(center=center, spread=spread)
  return(result)
}

# trying it out
set.seed(1234)
x <- rnorm(500) 
y <- mystats(x)
y
y <- mystats(x, parametric=FALSE, print=TRUE)
y

# remove a self-written function from memory
rm('knn')