Error: unexpected '}' in "}" if...print()...else...print()

Question

I WAS GIVEN ANSWER: THE if's closing BRACKET should be BEFORE ELSE not ABOVE.

This error had already been discussed here: Error: unexpected '}' in " }" and https://stackoverflow.com/questions/15303559/error-unexpected-in But they do not help me.

I run the code:

i <- 21
if(i==22){
 print(c("xxx"))
}
else{
 print(c("yyy"))
}

And get an error

else{ Error: unexpected 'else' in "else"
print(c("yyy")) [1] "yyy" } Error: unexpected '}' in "}"

I use Rstudio on Windows, quite new R version and Rstudio, but not sure where to check it

Is that all the code, one of the reasons you can get this error is something unbalanced before it. — Tony Hopkinson, May 29 '14 at 23:36
Hey, what happen to my "Closing Hammer of Thor"? Did I run out of lightening? — IRTFM, May 29 '14 at 23:41
@BondedDust, i think it temporary for testing purposes, but can't find now where i saw it — David Arenburg, May 30 '14 at 00:02

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered May 29 '14 at 23:36

6

Put the else after ifs bracket

i <- 21
if(i==22){
  print(c("xxx"))
}else{
  print(c("yyy"))
}

##[1] "yyy"

answered May 29 '14 at 23:36

David Arenburg

91,361
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From the ?"if" help page: In particular, you should not have a newline between } and else to avoid a syntax error in entering a if ... else construct at the keyboard or via source. For that reason, one (somewhat extreme) attitude of defensive programming is to always use braces, e.g., for if clauses – MrFlick May 29 '14 at 23:38

Aaron left Stack Overflow · Answer 2 · 2014-05-30T18:48:53.027

0

This code will work in a function or when enclosed in braces, but not elsewhere because else is on a new line. See the duplicate question for more details.

Good practice is to put the else on the same line as the }. Then it will work for both.

edited May 30 '14 at 18:48

answered May 29 '14 at 23:37

Aaron left Stack Overflow

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What gives you the impression that the code will work in a script? – Dason May 30 '14 at 00:33
I was sure that it would but tried it and was shocked to see that it doesn't! Apparently this is a misunderstanding I've had for a long time; thanks for setting me straight! – Aaron left Stack Overflow May 30 '14 at 18:42
I figured out my misunderstanding though -- it will work in a function and I guess I thought the same rules applied when running as a script. Editing response... – Aaron left Stack Overflow May 30 '14 at 18:45

Error: unexpected '}' in "}" if...print()...else...print()

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