combine               package:Biobase               R Documentation

_C_o_m_b_i_n_e _D_a_t_a _i_n_t_o _a _s_i_n_g_l_e _o_b_j_e_c_t.

_D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n:

     This generic function handles methods for combining or merging
     different Bioconductor data structures. It should, given an
     arbitrary number of arguments of the same class (possibly by
     inheritance), combine them into a single instance in a sensible
     way (your mileage may vary).

_U_s_a_g_e:

     combine(x, y, ...)

_A_r_g_u_m_e_n_t_s:

       x: One of the values. 

       y: A second value. 

     ...: Any other objects of the same class as 'x' and 'y'. 

_D_e_t_a_i_l_s:

     There are two basic combine strategies. One is an intersection
     strategy. The returned value should only have rows (or columns)
     that are found in all input data objects. The union strategy says
     that the return value will have all rows (or columns) found in any
     one of the input data objects (in which case some indication of
     what to use for missing values will need to be provided).

     These functions and methods are currently under construction.
     Please let us know if there are features that you require.

_V_a_l_u_e:

     A single value of the same class as the most specific common
     ancestor (in class terms) of the input values. This will contain
     the appropriate combination of the data in the input values.

_A_u_t_h_o_r(_s):

     Biocore

_S_e_e _A_l_s_o:

     'merge'

_E_x_a_m_p_l_e_s:

     ##---- Should be DIRECTLY executable !! ----
     ##-- ==>  Define data, use random,

