Error in `setDT` from `data.table` package

Question

It seems like setDT returns an error whenever you are trying to run it on a stored data in the datasets package. For example

librar         


        

Answer 1

With commit 1320, setDT now returns a friendly error that the object can not be modified by reference when it's binding is locked. From NEWS, No:37 under bug fixes for 1.9.3:

setDT now provides a friendly error when attempted to change a variable to data.table by reference whose binding is locked (usually when the variable is within a package, ex: CO2). Closes #475. Thanks to David Arenburg for filing the report here on SO.