no applicable method for 'as_factor' applied to an object of class "c('double', 'numeric')"

[xuhuizhang]

I tried to categorize a numerical vector by using as_factor()

as_factor(c(1, 2, 3))

The error hapeend.

Error in UseMethod("as_factor") : no applicable method for 'as_factor' applied to an object of class "c('double', 'numeric')"

But it works when comes to as.factor()

as.factor(c(1, 2, 3))
[1] 1 2 3
Levels: 1 2 3

[cderv]

as_factor methods only exists currently for factor and character. Factor vector are associated with character vector. In base R, if you provide numeric, it will be coerce to character before any other operation. I believe forcats is more strict and let the user to the coercion to prevent any issue. It is why you have to pass character vector only in this package right now. However, you can use forcats on already created factor by the base R factor package if you want. However, there is a order issue. (see below) Again, forcats is strict and keep level in vector ordering.

library(forcats)
# use factor
factor(c(1, 2, 3))
#> [1] 1 2 3
#> Levels: 1 2 3
# but levels are re-ordered
factor(c(1, 3, 2))
#> [1] 1 3 2
#> Levels: 1 2 3
as.factor(c(1, 3, 2))
#> [1] 1 3 2
#> Levels: 1 2 3
as.factor(as.character(c(1, 3, 2)))
#> [1] 1 3 2
#> Levels: 1 2 3
# forcats prevent level re-ordering
as_factor(as.character(c(1, 2, 3)))
#> [1] 1 2 3
#> Levels: 1 2 3
as_factor(as.character(c(1, 3, 2)))
#> [1] 1 3 2
#> Levels: 1 3 2
fct_inorder(as.character(c(1, 3, 2)))
#> [1] 1 3 2
#> Levels: 1 3 2

^{Created on 2018-09-07 by the reprex package (v0.2.0).<\sup>}

Hope it helps clarify the current situation. I let the tidyverse team say if a numeric type support is possible. 😄 maybe once the work in vctrs 📦 is ok. 🤔

[xuhuizhang]

Aha, a order issue🧐🧐, finally. Many thanks, It was a great help.

[hadley]

Seems reasonable to add it here.

[kbodwin]

I'll give it a go!