r - Possible bug: setting colnames of an xts object in the last line of a function -

i have r function follows form:

creatextsfromfile <- function(file) {     data <- read.table(file, sep = ",")     data <- xts(data[, 1], order.by = data[, 1], unique = false)     # manipulate data     colnames(data) <- c("a", "b", "c") } 

however, calling function returns character[3]:

data <- creatextsfromfile("file.txt") str(test)  chr [1:2] "a" "b" 

however, after removing final line in function, same call returns xts. strange thing moving final line other line in function returns xts. has come across before? did search on https://bugs.r-project.org/bugzilla3/ didn't find anything.

this not bug. help("function") tells happening. says, "if end of function reached without calling return, value of last evaluated expression returned."

so need return data object:

creatextsfromfile <- function(file) {     data <- read.table(file, sep = ",")     data <- xts(data[, 1], order.by = data[, 1], unique = false)     # manipulate data     colnames(data) <- c("a", "b", "c")     return(data) } 

also, use as.xts(read.zoo(...)) instead of writing new function scratch.