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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gsp
From: gsp@ulysses.UUCP (Gary Perlman)
Newsgroups: net.cog-eng,net.lang
Subject: Re: Time for keyword parameters in prog. langs
Message-ID: <824@ulysses.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 9-Apr-84 19:47:23 EST
Article-I.D.: ulysses.824
Posted: Mon Apr  9 19:47:23 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Apr-84 00:25:17 EST
References: <3781@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 10

The S system for data analysis allows a combination of
positional and keyword parameters.  For example, you can type:
	plot(height, weight, type='points')
The first two are encoded positionally, the next is labeled.
About 100 default graphical parameters are assumed.
You could also write the command in the form:
	plot(x=hight,y=weight,type='points')
For optional arguments, the labeled parameters seem like a big win.
They are also easier to read, assuming memorable keywords.
	Gary Perlman	BTL MH 5D-105	(201) 582-3624	ulysses!gsp