[Rd] Why does not the command 'length(a <- 1:5) <- 4' not work?

[Charles Dupont]

when running the command
  > length(a <- 1:5) <- 4

there are two responses.

If 'a' does not exist then the response is

Error in length(a <- 1:5) <- 4 : object "a" not found

If 'a' does exist then the response is

Error in length(a <- 1:5) <- 4 : could not find function "<-<-"

I would assume that 'length(a <- 1:5) <- 4' should work because 
'length(a <- 1:5)' does work.

Thank you for your help.

Charles Dupont
-- 
Charles Dupont	Computer System Analyst		School of Medicine
		Department of Biostatistics	Vanderbilt University