label_template: Generate a node-label scaffold for autoplot

In ackwards: Bass-Ackwards Hierarchical Structural Analysis

Generate a node-label scaffold for autoplot

Description

Returns a named character vector covering all factor IDs in the object, ready to pass to autoplot(x, node_labels = ...). Printing the result shows an editable c(...) literal so you can copy it into a script, fill in substantive labels, and use it directly; assigning the result (labs <- label_template(x)) produces no console output.

Usage

label_template(x, style = c("id", "forbes", "blank"))

## S3 method for class 'ackwards_labels'
print(x, ...)

Arguments

x	An ackwards object.
style	One of "id" (default), "forbes", or "blank". See Style options above.
...	Ignored; included for S3 method consistency.

Details

The factor IDs are returned in the same left-to-right, top-to-bottom order used by ba_layout() and autoplot.ackwards(), so the printed literal maps directly onto the diagram.

Value

A named character vector of class "ackwards_labels": names are factor IDs ("m{k}f{j}"), values are the label strings for the chosen style. The vector is suitable for direct use as the node_labels argument to autoplot.ackwards(). Its print() method renders the vector as an editable c(...) literal for copy-paste.

Style options

• "id" (default) – every value equals the factor ID ("m1f1", "m2f1", ...). This is a round-trip no-op: passing the result to node_labels without editing reproduces the default labels exactly. Useful as the starting point for adding substantive labels.

• "forbes" – values follow the Forbes (2023) convention: level-letter + within-level index ("A1", "B1", "B2", ...). Level 1 -> A, level 2 -> B, level 3 -> C, and so on. Within-level indices are assigned in canonical layout order (left to right). Requires k_max <= 26 (LETTERS has 26 entries); an error is raised for deeper objects.

• "blank" – all values are empty strings. Useful as a starting scaffold when you want to supply every label from scratch with no defaults showing through.

See Also

autoplot.ackwards(), top_items(), ba_layout()

Examples

x <- ackwards(sim16, k_max = 5)

# Start from ID defaults, then fill in your own labels:
labs <- label_template(x)
labs["m5f1"] <- "My factor name"

# Forbes letter convention:
label_template(x, style = "forbes")

ackwards documentation built on July 25, 2026, 1:08 a.m.