Author: Adam B. Smith
Date: 2026-04-17

# For developers: Hidden fasterRaster functions

#### Adam B. Smith

#### 2026-04-17

fasterRaster contains a set of “private” functions that users can access using `fasterRaster:::functionName`. These functions are useful for power users and developers. Not all hidden functions are listed here. Often, a method will have a hidden function of the same name that starts with a period (e.g., `.plot()`). This “period” function is intended to be supplied the `sources()` name of a `GRaster` or `GVector` from other functions so that the calling function does not need to spend the time creating the `GRaster` or `GVector` pointer before calling the function. “Period” functions will, though, often work on `GRaster`s or `GVector`s, though some error-checking and region re-definition is not conducted.

## General

- `.addons()`: Tests if an addon is installed, and if not, attempts to install it.
- `.backdoor()`: Calls [faster()] and sets GRASS folder to “`C:/Program Files/GRASS GIS X.Y`”, plus other options useful for development.
- `.fileExt()`: Get file extension
- `.ls()`: Lists the `sources` of all objects in the active GRASS “project/location”
- `.message()`: Display a warning or message if the given warning has not been displayed since fasterRaster was attached or if a given number of hours has passed
- `.quiet()`: Returns “quiet” if `faster("debug")` is `TRUE`
- `.workDir()`: Working directory of a `GLocation` object

## Rasters and vectors

- `.copyGSpatial()`: Make a copy of the GRASS file pointed to by a `GRaster` or `GVector`
- `.exists()`: Does the GRASS file of a `GRaster` or `GVector` exist?
- `.ext()`: Extent from the `sources()` name of a `GRaster` or `GVector`
- `.makeSourceName()`: Makes one or more statistically unique strings that can be used as file names to represent rasters or vectors in GRASS
- `.plot()`: Plot using the `sources()` name of a `GRaster` or `GVector`
- `.projection()`: Value of the `@projection` slot in a `GRaster` or `GVector`
- `.rastInfo()` and `.vectInfo()`: Metadata for a GRASS raster or vector
- `.rename()`: Rename a GRASS raster or vector
- `.rm()`: Delete rasters or vectors in GRASS

## Vectors

- `.aggDisaggVect()`: Aggregate or disaggregate a vector using its `sources()` name.
- `.geomtype()`: Geometry type (“point”, “line”, or “area”) from the `sources()` name of a `GVector`
- `.validVector()`: Test if a `GVector` is valid.
- `.vAsDataTable()`: Convert the attribute table linked to a vector in GRASS to a `data.table`. This table is distinct from the attribute table attached to a `GVector`
- `.vAttachDatabase()`: Add a database table to the GRASS representation of a `GVector`
- `.vCats()`: Get a `data.table` with a single column named `cat`, which corresponds to the GRASS attribute table’s `cat` column
- `.vDetachDatabase()`: Detach the GRASS database from a GRASS vector
- `.vHasDatabase()`: Tests if GRASS vector has a database
- `.vIncrementCats()`: Increment category values of a `GVector`
- `.vNames()`: “GRASS” vector attribute table column names
- `.vRecat()`: Change GRASS category indices of a GRASS vector
- `.vValidCats()`: Are category values of a vector valid?

## Rasters

- `.layerIndex()`: Gets the index of `GRaster` layers from a numeric, integer, character, or logical vector
- `.minVal()` and `.maxVal()`: Values in the `@minVal` and `@maxVal` slots in a `GRaster`
- `.nlevels()`: Number of levels in a `SpatVector`, `data.frame`, `data.table`, empty string, or a list of `data.frame`s, `data.table`s, and/or empty strings.

## GRASS “projects/locations” and “mapsets”

- `.locationCreate()` Make a connection to GRASS (i.e., start GRASS from within R) and create a location
- `.locationDelete()` Deletes all files associated with a GRASS “location” and mapset
- `.locationFind()`: Find a specific GRASS “location” that already exists
- `.locationRestore()` Reconnect GRASS to a previously-created GRASS “location”
- `.locations()`: List of all available “locations”
- `.g.proj()`: Runs GRASS `g.proj` tool to display projection of current “project”
- `.g.region()`: Runs GRASS `g.region` tool to display region of current “project”
- `.mapset()`: GRASS “mapset” of an object or the active session

## GRASS “regions”

- `.region()`: Change or report the active region’s extent and resolution
- `.regionDim()]`: Change or report the active region’s resolution (also `dim()` and related functions, with no arguments)
- `.regionExt()`: Change or report the active region’s extent (also `ext()` and related functions, with no arguments)
- `.regionRes()`: Change or report the active region’s dimensions (also `res()` and related functions, with no arguments)

~ FINIS ~