[R] Reorder factor and address embedded escapes

[Erik Iverson]

Does the following help?

A = c("A\\nB", "C\\nD")
test <-data.frame(A)

#access levels directly to change names
levels(test$A) <- sub("\\\\n", "\n", levels(test$A))

#re-order levels of the factor
test$A <- relevel(test$A, "C\nD")


Rob James wrote:
> I am trying to reorder a factor variable that has embedded escape 
> characters.  The data begins as a csv file with a factor that includes 
> embedded new line characters.  By the time read.table has rendered it 
> into a data frame, the variable now has an extra backslash.
> 
> e.g.
> "This\nLabel" in the csv becomes "This\\nLabel" in the data frame.
> 
> So, I am trying to reorder the factor and deal with the introduction of 
> a secondary  \ .   Here's a small example:
> 
> 
> A = c("A\\nB", "C\\nD")
> test <-data.frame(A)
> str(test)
> test$reorderA <-factor(test$A, c("C\\nD", "A\\nB"))
> str(test)
> test$reorderB <-sub("\\\\n", "\n", test$reorderA)
> str(test)
> 
> When sub is applied to the now-correctly ordered factor, it returns to 
> the default ordering.
> 
> Suggestions?
> 
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