dplyr rename error: contains unknown variables

Question

Very simple, renaming colnames with dplyr gives me an odd error.

 library(dplyr)

 df <- data.frame(var1=c("one","two","three"),var2=c(1,2,3)) 

 df <- 
    df %>% 
    rename(var1=are.letters, var2=are.numbers)

Error: `are.letters`, `are.numbers` contains unknown variables

second try

 df <- rename(df, var1=are.letters, var2=are.numbers)

Error: `are.letters`, `are.numbers` contains unknown variables

Wondering if quoting....

df <- 
    df %>% 
    rename('var1'='are.letters', 'var2'='are.numbers')

Error: `are.letters`, `are.numbers` contains unknown variables

If you want to name the column names with 'are.eltters' and 'are.numbers, it should be the other way. Did you meant df %>% rename(are.letters = var1, are.numbers = var2) — akrun
– akrun, Commented Aug 24, 2017 at 9:48
@Akrun you're right. The order is just the opposite. Counter-intuitive IMHO — Forge
– Forge, Commented Aug 24, 2017 at 13:00

D. Woods · Accepted Answer · 2017-10-10 16:43:31Z

30

Just made the same error. So, I'm converting @akrun's useful comment into an "answer."

To fix this, the new name should be on the left hand of the equal sign and the existing name should be on the right.

Like this:

df <- df %>% 
    rename(are.letters = var1, are.numbers = var2)

answered Oct 10, 2017 at 16:43

D. Woods

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