Variable-class: Class '"Variable"'
In simdat.base: Simulating data in R

Description Objects from the Class Methods Author(s) Examples

The Variable class is the base class for fixed and random variables in SimDat. There are four basic types of variables: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio variables. These can be fixed or random.

"Variable" itself is a virtual Class: No objects may be created from it. But there are constructor methods for the derived classes:

NominalVariable(data=factor(),name)

RandomNominalVariable(data=factor(),name)

OrdinalVariable(data=ordered(),name)

RandomOrdinalVariable(data=ordered(),name)

IntervalVariable(data=numeric(),name,digits=getOption('digits'))

RandomIntervalVariable(data=numeric(),name,digits=getOption('digits'),min=-Inf,max=Inf)

RatioVariable(data=numeric(),name,digits=getOption('digits'))

RandomRatioVariable(data=numeric(),name,digits=getOption('digits'),min=-Inf,max=Inf)

asFixed: signature(object = "Variable"): ...
asRandom: signature(object = "Variable"): ...
coerce: signature(from = "Variable", to = "IntervalVariable"): ...
coerce: signature(from = "Variable", to = "NominalVariable"): ...
coerce: signature(from = "Variable", to = "OrdinalVariable"): ...
coerce: signature(from = "Variable", to = "RandomIntervalVariable"): ...
coerce: signature(from = "Variable", to = "RandomNominalVariable"): ...
coerce: signature(from = "Variable", to = "RandomOrdinalVariable"): ...
coerce: signature(from = "Variable", to = "RandomRatioVariable"): ...
coerce: signature(from = "Variable", to = "RatioVariable"): ...
digits: signature(object = "Variable"): ...
isMetric: signature(object = "Variable"): ...
isRandom: signature(object = "Variable"): ...
labels: signature(object = "Variable"): ...
names<-: signature(x = "Variable"): ...
names: signature(x = "Variable"): ...
simulateFromModel: signature(object = "Variable", model = "GamlssModel"): ...
simulateFromModel: signature(object = "Variable", model = "MixedParModel"): ...
simulateFromModel: signature(object = "Variable", model = "MvnormModel"): ...
simulateFromModel: signature(object = "Variable", model = "UniformModel"): ...
simulate: signature(object = "Variable"): ...
Summary: signature(x = "Variable"): ...

Maarten Speekenbrink

showClass("Variable")
## create a Nominal variable
A <- NominalVariable(factor(1:2,labels="A1","A2"),name="A")
# derives some methods from 'factor':
levels(A)
levels(A) <- c("A1","A3")
## convert to a RandomInterval variable
rA <- as(A,"RandomNominalVariable")
## check that it is actually a random variable:
isRandom(rA)
## is it a metric (>= interval level) variable? 
isMetric(rA)
# construct a (truncated) interval variable
B <- RandomIntervalVariable(rnorm(10),name="B",digits=2,min=0,max=10)