Using a parameter as a variable name inside a function in R

Question

I am trying to incorporate the name of the month in the name of the variable being stored.

import <- function(month) {
  dataobj <- letters
  assign("x", dataobj)
  save("x", file="data.rda")
}

works. But the following doesn't work -

import <- function(month) {
  dataobj <- letters
  assign(substr(month, 1, 3), dataobj)
  save(substr(month, 1, 3), file="data.rda")
}

It seems that save() will accept "x" but not substr(month, 1, 3).

Any ideas how to fix this?

Answer 1

Use the list argument of save():

save(list=substr(month,1,3), file="data.rda")