R/unlistDF.R

In mrdwab/AMsnippets: Useful function "snippets"

#'"Unlist" a \code{list} of \code{data.frame}s to your workspace
#'
#'Many people like the convenience that a \code{list} of \code{data.frame}s
#'offer; however, some would prefer to have each \code{data.frame} as a
#'separate object in their workspace. This function "unlists" a \code{list} of
#'\code{data.frame}s, creating objects named after the \code{list} and the list
#'item's names (or index position, if names are not available).
#'
#'
#'@param mylist The name of your \code{list} object
#'@author Ananda Mahto
#'@seealso \code{\link{unlist}}
#'@examples
#'
#'## Some example data
#'## List with named items
#'qwerty <- list(A = data.frame(A = 1:2, B = 3:4),
#'            B = data.frame(C = 5:6, D = 7:8))
#'
#'## List with unnamed items
#'ytrewq <- list(data.frame(A = 1:2, B = 3:4),
#'            data.frame(C = 5:6, D = 7:8))
#'
#'ls(pattern = "qwer|ytre")
#'
#'unlistDF(qwerty)
#'unlistDF(ytrewq)
#'
#'ls(pattern = "qwer|ytre")
#'\dontshow{rm(list = ls(pattern = "qwer|ytre"))}
#'
unlistDF <- function(mylist) {
  dname <- deparse(substitute(mylist))
  if (is.null(names(mylist))) prefix <- paste0(dname, "_", 1:length(mylist))
  else prefix <- paste0(dname, "_", names(mylist))
  for (i in 1:length(mylist)) assign(prefix[i], mylist[[i]], envir=.GlobalEnv)
}