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Miscellaneous import_ - Functions

Source: R/import_misc.R
import_misc.Rd

The import_LL() function places specific functions from a package in the current environment, and also locks (see lockBinding) the specified functions to prevent modification.
The primary use-case for this function is for exposing functions inside a local environment.

The import_int() function directly returns an internal function from a package.
It is similar to the ::: operator, but with 2 key differences:

  1. import_int() includes the lib.loc argument.

  2. import_int() only searches internal functions, not exported ones. This makes it clearer in your code that you're using an internal function, instead of making it ambiguous.

Usage

import_LL(package, selection, lib.loc = .libPaths())

import_int(form, lib.loc = .libPaths())

Arguments

package

a single string, giving the name of the package to take functions from.
Core R (i.e. "base", "stats", etc.) is not allowed.

selection

a character vector of function names (both regular functions and infix operators).
Internal functions or re-exported functions are not supported.

lib.loc

character vector specifying library search path (the location of R library trees to search through).
The lib.loc argument would usually be .libPaths().
See also loadNamespace.

form

a two-sided formula, with one term on each side.
The term on the left hand side should give a single package name.
The term on the right hand side should give a single internal function.
Example: package_name ~ function_name
Core R (i.e. "base", "stats", etc.) is not allowed.

Value

For import_LL():

The specified functions will be placed in the current environment, and locked.

To unexpose or overwrite the functions, simply remove them; i.e.:

rm(list=c("some_function1", "some_function2")).


For import_int():

The function itself is returned directly.

So one can assign the function directly to some variable, like so:

myfun <- import_int(...)


or use it directly without re-assignment like so:

import_int(...)(...)

Details

Regarding the Locks in import_LL()
The import_as function returns a locked environment, just like loadNamespace, thus protecting the functions from accidental modification or re-assignment.
The import_inops function returns infix operators, and though these are not locked, one needs to surround infix operators by back ticks to re-assign or modify them, which is unlikely to happen on accident.
The import_LL() function, however, returns "loose" functions. And these functions (unless they are infix operators) do not have the protection due to a locked environment or due to the syntax.
Therefore, to ensure safety from (accidental) modification or re-assignment, the import_LL() function locks these functions (see lockBinding). For consistency, infix operators exposed by import_LL() are also locked.

Other Details
The import_LL() and import_int() functions do not support importing functions from base/core R.

See also

tinycodet_import

Examples


# Using import_LL ====
import_LL(
  "stringi", "stri_sub"
)
#> exposing and locking functions to current environment ...
#> Done
# the stri_sub() function now cannot be modified, only used or removed, because it's locked:
bindingIsLocked("stri_sub", environment()) # TRUE
#> [1] TRUE

mypaste <- function(x, y) {
  import_LL("stringi", selection = "stri_c")
  stri_c(x, y)
  }
mypaste("hello ", "world")
#> exposing and locking functions to current environment ...
#> Done
#> [1] "hello world"



# Using internal function ====
# Through re-assignment:
fun <- import_int(tinycodet ~ .internal_paste, .libPaths())
fun("hello", "world")
#> [1] "helloworld"

# Or using directly:
import_int(
  tinycodet ~ .internal_paste, .libPaths()
)("hello", "world")
#> [1] "helloworld"