combine.lists: [R] Combining two lists

> source('c:/users/patrick/R/fcts/combineLists.R') # load file where combine.lists R function is defined
> list1 <- list(a=rnorm(4), b=seq(3), c=c(10, 11))
> list1

$a
[1] -1.2065101 -0.1044239 0.5002407 -1.3123974

$b
[1] 1 2 3

$c
[1] 10 11

> list2 <- list(b=-seq(2), d=0.24)
> list2

$b
[1] -1 -2

$d
[1] 0.24

> new <- combine.lists(list1, list2)
> new

$a
[1] -1.2065101 -0.1044239 0.5002407 -1.3123974

$b
[1] -1 -2

$c
[1] 10 11

$d
[1] 0.24

combine.lists <- function(list1, list2)
{
   # Combine lists 'list1' and 'list2', giving precedence to elements found in 'list2':
   # that is, if $something is found in both 'list1' and 'list2',
   # the new (output) list will have the same values as 'list2' in $something

   # Version 1.0 (August 2017)
   #
   # Function developed by
   # Patrick Belisle
   # Division of Clinical Epidemiology
   # McGill University Hospital Center
   # Montreal, Qc, Can
   #
   # patrick.belisle@rimuhc.ca
   # http://www.medicine.mcgill.ca/epidemiology/Joseph/PBelisle/BetaParmsFromQuantiles.html

   list1.names <- names(list1)
   list2.names <- names(list2)

   new.list <- list1

   tmp <- match(list2.names, list1.names)
   w <- which(!is.na(tmp))

   if (length(w) > 0)
   {
     # take values from list2 in matching dimension names
     tmp <- tmp[!is.na(tmp)]
     new.list[[tmp]] <- list2[[w]]

     # append elements of 'list2' with unmatched names
     new.list <- c(new.list, list2[-w])
   }
   else
   {
     new.list <- c(new.list, list2)
   }

   new.list
} # end of combine.lists