Create empty data tables in R

Question

Let's say I need to create empty date tables with the following names (create if it doesn't exist in my environment):

# names of datatables that should be created
  dt_list <- c("results_1", 
               "results_2",     
               "final_results",   
               "model_results")

That is, I need to get empty (no columns) data tables: results_1, results_2, final_results, model_results (in reality, I have a much longer list of date labels that should be created if they don't exist).
I read the thread but didn't find a suitable solution.

I tried something like this, but it doesn't work:

# create an empty data.table if not exists
  for(dt in 1:length(dt_list)){
    if(!exists(dt_list[dt])){
      dt_list[dt] <- data.table()
    }
  }

Error in dt_list[dt] <- data.table() : replacement has length zero

I would be grateful for any help!

Answer 1

Try this:

# create an empty data.table if not exists
for(dt in 1:length(dt_list)){
  if(!exists(dt_list[dt])){
    assign(dt_list[dt], data.table())
  }
}