ESS and R

[Kasper Daniel Hansen]

On Thursday 10 July 2003 12:20, ess-help-request at stat.math.ethz.ch wrote:
> Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2003 10:03:31 +0100
> From: "Fohr, Marc [AM]" <marc.fohr at first-private.de>
> Subject: ESS and R
> To: "'ess-help at stat.math.ethz.ch'" <ess-help at stat.math.ethz.ch>
> Message-ID:
> 	<05D9367E7F42D711A0D40002A5F3BE8601276D95 at exchuk08.eur.nsroot.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="ISO-8859-1"
>
> Hello,
>
> I am running R under Windows XP for the moment. The editor I am currently
> running is RGUI. The major inconvenient is that input and output are
> generated in the same window. Many R-users have given me the advice to use
> ESS. However, before installing the software ESS under Windows XP, I am
> looking to get an answer to the following questions:

It sounds as if you want a quick easy solution for editing R files. If that is 
the case I suggest that you forget about ESS.

ESS is an add-on package for the editor (X)Emacs. In order to use ESS you need 
to
1) install (X)Emacs
2) learn how to do basic editing in (X)Emacs
and espcially 2) may take quite a while. If you take the time to learn this 
editor you'll get a powerful, platform-independet tool. But it _will_ take 
time.

If you already know a lot about (X)Emacs forget about this answer - then ESS 
is the right choice :)

Running ESS and R in (X)Emacs basically puts the command line interface inside 
of the editor. While useless at a glance this actually provides you with many 
powerful options.

> a) How do I run R under ESS? How do I have to link both programmes? How do
> I switch off RGUI? Do I have to?
> b) If I am also running LaTex, is it possible to run it besides R?

I'm not sure I understand the question. Latex has nothing to do with R. As I 
understand the question, you could be asking "can I run Internet Explorer, 
while I am editing a word document". So the answer is yes 

> c) Can ESS easily be uninstalled?

Yes. But I guess what you're think about is "Can (X)Emacs easily be 
uninstalled?". I guess so, I am not using (X)Emacs on the XP platform.

> d) How do I get an input and output window under ESS? How do I run R in the
> one window, to see the result in another?

Technically you don't get two windows. However, you get something which is 
very similar (at least that is how I use it, and I'm by no means an expert on 
ESS).

> e) What will happen to the graphics produced by R?

They will be displayed in the standard R graphics window.

> f) Any problems when printing under Windows XP?

Depends on your setup I guess.

> g) Any other problems with Windows XP?

It's soooo tempting to be answer this qeuestion... but I'll refrain ;)

> h) Where can I find all the shortcuts I need for ESS?

You may start by reading the manual :)

-- 
Kasper Daniel Hansen, Research Assistant
Department of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen
Email: k.hansen at biostat.ku.dk, Office: 22.3.40
Phone: +45 35 32 79 20, Fax: +45 35 32 79 07