# Easily add today’s date to filenames in R using quickcode package

#### Obinna (OBI) Obianom

#### 2026-04-04

    # quickcode::clean(clearPkgs = TRUE) #clear environment and clear previous package
    quickcode::libraryAll(datasets) #load in-built dataset

    ## Packages Loaded:

    ## datasets, version 4.4.1

## fAddDate function

#### In R, data often gets saved to files for future use or subsequent processes. However, without a version control system in place, ensuring the consistency and reproducibility of saved data can pose challenges, particularly when scripts evolve over time. The “fAddDate” function addresses such concerns by automatically appending the current date to the file name, mitigating the risk of data loss and enhancing reproducibility. By simplifying the process with just a single line of code, users no longer need to manually update the date of each run, thereby streamlining workflow efficiency. Reproducibility in programming is crucial for maintaining the integrity of analyses and fostering trust in research outcomes. Ensuring that results can be consistently replicated not only enhances transparency but also facilitates collaboration and builds confidence in the reliability of findings. Therefore, by incorporating automated date stamping, this function not only safeguards against data inconsistency but also reinforces the fundamental principles of reproducible research in R programming.

## Usage

Let’s load the USArrests data. And let’s assume that we want to save data to the system using the content of the row names as our file names.

    data("USArrests")

    filenames = paste0(row.names(USArrests), ".txt")

    head(filenames,8) # before adding today's date

    ## [1] "Alabama.txt"     "Alaska.txt"      "Arizona.txt"     "Arkansas.txt"
    ## [5] "California.txt"  "Colorado.txt"    "Connecticut.txt" "Delaware.txt"

    rev.filenames = fAddDate(filenames) # append today's date to the file names

    rev.filenames

    ##  [1] "Alabama_04-Apr-2026.txt"        "Alaska_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ##  [3] "Arizona_04-Apr-2026.txt"        "Arkansas_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ##  [5] "California_04-Apr-2026.txt"     "Colorado_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ##  [7] "Connecticut_04-Apr-2026.txt"    "Delaware_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ##  [9] "Florida_04-Apr-2026.txt"        "Georgia_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [11] "Hawaii_04-Apr-2026.txt"         "Idaho_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [13] "Illinois_04-Apr-2026.txt"       "Indiana_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [15] "Iowa_04-Apr-2026.txt"           "Kansas_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [17] "Kentucky_04-Apr-2026.txt"       "Louisiana_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [19] "Maine_04-Apr-2026.txt"          "Maryland_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [21] "Massachusetts_04-Apr-2026.txt"  "Michigan_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [23] "Minnesota_04-Apr-2026.txt"      "Mississippi_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [25] "Missouri_04-Apr-2026.txt"       "Montana_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [27] "Nebraska_04-Apr-2026.txt"       "Nevada_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [29] "New Hampshire_04-Apr-2026.txt"  "New Jersey_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [31] "New Mexico_04-Apr-2026.txt"     "New York_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [33] "North Carolina_04-Apr-2026.txt" "North Dakota_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [35] "Ohio_04-Apr-2026.txt"           "Oklahoma_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [37] "Oregon_04-Apr-2026.txt"         "Pennsylvania_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [39] "Rhode Island_04-Apr-2026.txt"   "South Carolina_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [41] "South Dakota_04-Apr-2026.txt"   "Tennessee_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [43] "Texas_04-Apr-2026.txt"          "Utah_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [45] "Vermont_04-Apr-2026.txt"        "Virginia_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [47] "Washington_04-Apr-2026.txt"     "West Virginia_04-Apr-2026.txt"
    ## [49] "Wisconsin_04-Apr-2026.txt"      "Wyoming_04-Apr-2026.txt"

    #...write further codes to use the file names to save new files.

## List of other cool functions to use

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    data_shuffle    Shuffle a data frame just like shuffle in PHP
    date1to3    Combine vectors to create Date, or split Date into vectors
    date3to1    Combine vectors to create Date, or split Date into vectors
    duplicate   Duplicate a file with global text replacement
    fAddDate    Append date to filename
    genRandImg  Download random images from the web
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    is.lognormal    Check if a data fits a Normal or LogNormal or Uniform or Poisson or Gamma distribution
    is.normal   Check if a data fits a Normal or LogNormal or Uniform or Poisson or Gamma distribution
    is.poisson  Check if a data fits a Normal or LogNormal or Uniform or Poisson or Gamma distribution
    is.uniform  Check if a data fits a Normal or LogNormal or Uniform or Poisson or Gamma distribution
    is.weibull  Check if a data fits a Normal or LogNormal or Uniform or Poisson or Gamma distribution
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    list_shuffle    Shuffle a list object just like shuffle in PHP
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    mix.color   Mix or Blend two or more colors
    mix.cols.btw    Mix or Blend colors between two or more colors
    multiply    Multiple a vector of numeric values
    newSuperVar Create and use a super variable with unique capabilities
    not.data    Not a data
    not.duplicated  Not duplicated elements
    not.empty   Not empty
    not.environment Not an environment
    not.exists  Not exists
    not.image   File name extension(s) is Not an image
    not.integer Not an integer
    not.logical Not logical
    not.na  Not NA
    not.null    Not NULL
    not.numeric Not numeric
    not.vector  Not a vector
    number  Generate a random number (integer)
    pairDist    Calculate the distance of points from the center of a cluster
    plus    Increment vector by value
    randString  Generate a random string
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    rDecomPkg   Check whether an R package has been decommissioned in CRAN
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    vector_shuffle  Shuffle a vector just like shuffle in PHP
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