print method for handle objects

DESCRIPTION:

Prints information about an object of class handle. These objects are used in referring to objects where the actual data is hidden somehow. They are used in dealing with external subprocesses from S.

Note: This function is deprecated. For more information, see .

USAGE:

print.handle(x, ...) 

REQUIRED ARGUMENTS:

x
a handle object

VALUE:

x with the invisible flag set to prevent reprinting

SIDE EFFECTS:

prints the handle "value" along with the handle's type (if known), validity flag and "inuse" flag.

DETAILS:

A handle can be viewed as an "opaque" data type. Part of the intent is to hide the underlying data from prying eyes. Reasons for hiding the data might be that is hard to represent in S-PLUS (so it is maintained in some object code loaded into S-PLUS) or that it might vary depending on the platform or to protect it from user modification.

SEE ALSO:

, , , ,

EXAMPLES:

myHandle <- handle ("myData") 
myHandle 
# Produces the following output 
Handle 816557652 type = myData : Valid Inuse