The problem is that if you do the following: x <- NA then x == NA returns NA (and not TRUE or even FALSE).
Use is.na to test for NA (see ?is.na). --- "Thomas L Jones, PhD" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Difficulty handling NA's: > Assume that I have a numeric vector y. For > simplicity, assume that it has 10 > elements. Assume that the third element has the > value NA. I give it the > following: > NA_test <- function (){ > y <- numeric (10) > y [3] <- NA > if (y [3] != NA){(print ("no")} > print ("Leaving NA_test") > return () > }# End of function > > ------------------------------------------------------------- > Unfortunately, things become confused involving the > NA element. > Here is the output, starting with the loading > process: > > ---------------------------------------------------------- > > NA_test <- function (){ > + y <- numeric (10) > + y [3] <- NA > + if (y [3] != NA){(print ("no")} > Error: syntax error in: > "y [3] <- NA > if (y [3] != NA){(print ("no")}" > > print ("Leaving NA_test") > [1] "Leaving NA_test" > > return () > Error: no function to return from, jumping to top > level > > }# End of function > Error: syntax error in "}" > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > I have enclosed the print operation in braces to > avoid possible problems > with it. > > Your advice? > > Tom Jones > > ______________________________________________ > R-help@r-project.org mailing list > https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help > PLEASE do read the posting guide > http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html > and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, > reproducible code. > ______________________________________________ R-help@r-project.org mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.