MethodSupport            package:methods            R Documentation

Additional (Support) Functions for Methods

Description:

     These are support routines for computations on formal methods.

Usage:

     getMethodsForDispatch(f, fdef)

     cacheMethod(f, sig, def, args, fdef, inherited = FALSE)

     resetGeneric(f, fdef, mlist, where, deflt)

Summary of Functions:

     'resetGeneric': reset the currently defined methods for this
          generic to the currently visible methods, looking from
          environment 'where'.  Returns 'TRUE' or 'FALSE' according to
          whether information for the function was found in the
          metadata.

          Normally not called directly, since changes to methods,
          attaching and detaching packages all generate a call
          automatically.

     'cacheMethod': Store the definition for this function and
          signature in the method metadata for the function.  Used to
          store extensions of coerce methods found through inheritance,
          and to cache methods with 'callNextMethod' information.

          No persistent effect, since the method metadata is
          session-scope only.

     'getMethodsForDispatch': Get the current methods list object
          representing the methods for function 'f', merged from the
          various packages and with any additional caching information
          stored in the 'allMethods' slot.

          If methods have not yet been merged, calling
          'getMethodsForDispatch' will cause the merge to take place.

