ThinkStats in R Example 1.2

# ThinkStats in R by @hrbrmstr
# Example 1.2
# File format info: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/nsfg_cycle6.htm

# setup a data frame that has the field start/end info

pFields <- data.frame(name  = c('caseid', 'nbrnaliv', 'babysex', 'birthwgt_lb','birthwgt_oz','prglength', 'outcome', 'birthord',  'agepreg',  'finalwgt'),
                      begin = c(1, 22, 56, 57, 59, 275, 277, 278, 284, 423),
                      end   = c(12, 22, 56, 58, 60, 276, 277, 279, 287, 440)
)

# calculate widths so we can pass them to read.fwf()

pFields$width <- pFields$end - pFields$begin + 1

# we aren't reading every field (for the book exercises)

pFields$skip <-  (-c(pFields$begin[-1]-pFields$end[-nrow(pFields)]-1,0))

widths <- c(t(pFields[,4:5]))
widths <- widths[widths!=0]

# read in the file

pregnancies <- read.fwf("2002FemPreg.dat", widths)

# assign column names

names(pregnancies) <- pFields$name

# divide mother's age by 100

pregnancies$agepreg <- pregnancies$agepreg / 100

# convert weight at birth from lbs/oz to total ounces

pregnancies$totalwgt_oz = pregnancies$birthwgt_lb * 16 + pregnancies$birthwgt_oz

rFields <- data.frame(name  = c('caseid'),
                      begin = c(1),
                      end   = c(12)
)

rFields$width <- rFields$end - rFields$begin + 1
rFields$skip <-  (-c(rFields$begin[-1]-rFields$end[-nrow(rFields)]-1,0))

widths <- c(t(rFields[,4:5]))
widths <- widths[widths!=0]

respondents <- read.fwf("2002FemResp.dat", widths)
names(respondents) <- rFields$name

str(respondents)
str(pregnancies)