MethodSupport            package:methods            R Documentation

_A_d_d_i_t_i_o_n_a_l (_S_u_p_p_o_r_t) _F_u_n_c_t_i_o_n_s _f_o_r _M_e_t_h_o_d_s

_D_e_s_c_r_i_p_t_i_o_n:

     These are support routines for computations on formal methods.

_U_s_a_g_e:

     getMethodsForDispatch(f, fdef)

     cacheMethod(f, sig, def, args, fdef)

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

_S_u_m_m_a_r_y _o_f _F_u_n_c_t_i_o_n_s:

     '_r_e_s_e_t_G_e_n_e_r_i_c': 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.

     '_c_a_c_h_e_M_e_t_h_o_d': 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.

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

     '_g_e_t_M_e_t_h_o_d_s_F_o_r_D_i_s_p_a_t_c_h': 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.

