[R] creating a dynamic output vector

[Steve Powers]

Let's say I have a program that returns variables whose names may be any 
string within the vector 
NAMES=c("varA","varB","varC","varD","varE","varF"..."varZ"), but I do 
not ever know which ones have actually been created. So in one example 
output, "varA", "varC", and "varD" could exist, but in another example 
output "varA", "varD", "varE",and "varF" exist, with no pattern or 
predictability (different combinations can come out, as well as 
different numbers of variables).

How do assign the output values, in pre-arranged order, into an output 
vector? The output vector for the first example would be OUTPUTS=c(varA, 
NA, varC, varD...) and the output vector for the second example would be 
OUTPUTS=c(varA, NA, NA, varD, varE, varF...).  In other words, the rows 
for all potential returned values need to be retained in the order set 
by NAMES, and the values all need to be plugged into their respective 
spot in that order if they exist. Otherwise NA is plugged in.

One other factor is that some outputs are values, but others are text. Tips?


Using R version 2.4 on Windows XP