[Rd] R-devel (87913) compilation fails at "make vignettes"; R-4-4 completes and fails "make check"

[Sebastian Meyer]

Am 09.03.25 um 18:15 schrieb Avraham Adler:
> Hello.
> 
> I recently built a new computer and I am now using Windows 11. When
> building a distribution of R-devel from source using the most recent
> Rtools44, the build consistently fails at the point it is supposed to
> build the vignettes from base with the message below. R-4-4-branch
> (also 87913) completes without error but fails "make check".
> 
> R-devel Error:
> ```
> * DONE (mgcv)
> building/updating vignettes for package 'grid' ...
> processing 'displaylist.Rnw'
> make[2]: *** [Makefile.win:99: vignettes] Error 1
> make[1]: *** [Makefile:345: vignettes] Error 2
> make: *** [Makefile:395: distribution] Error 2
> ```
> Looking at Makefile.win in .src/library at line 99 shows:
> 
> ```
> vignettes:
> @for pkg in grid parallel utils stats; do \
>      $(ECHO) "building/updating vignettes for package '$${pkg}' ..."; \
>      ($(ECHO) "tools:::.install_package_vignettes(\"$(srcdir)/$${pkg}\",
> \"$(top_builddir)/library/$${pkg}\")") | \
>          R_DEFAULT_PACKAGES="utils,tools" LC_ALL=C \
>    R_LIBS_USER=NULL R_LIBS_SITE=NULL \
>            $(R_EXE) > /dev/null || exit 1; \

The '|| exit 1' only exists since r87822: previously, failures from 
building the base vignettes would be missed.

> done
> @rm -Rf .vignettes
> ```
> 
> While R-4-4 completes "make distribution" compilation, it fails make check with:
> 
> ```
> Testing examples for package 'tools'
>    comparing 'tools-Ex.Rout' to 'tools-Ex.Rout.save' ... NOTE
>    1062,1063d1061
>    < Warning in file(con, "r") :
>    <   file("") only supports open = "w+" and open = "w+b": using the former
>    1066,1067c1064,1065
>    <  $ file    : chr ""
>    <  $ title   : chr ""
>    ---
>    >  $ file    : chr "grid.Rnw"
>    >  $ title   : chr "Introduction to grid"

This output diff from the example in ?tools::vignetteInfo shows that 
your R-4-4 installation indeed lacks base vignettes. Maybe pdflatex 
isn't installed or in the PATH on your new system?

> Testing examples for package 'utils'
> Error: running examples in 'utils-Ex.R' failed
> Error: testing 'utils' failed
> Execution halted
> make[3]: *** [Makefile.win:29: test-Examples-Base] Error 1
> make[2]: *** [Makefile.common:208: test-Examples] Error 2
> make[1]: *** [Makefile.common:193: test-all-basics] Error 1
> make: *** [Makefile:333: check-devel] Error 2
> ```

There should be a file utils-Ex.Rout.fail (I think in tests/Examples/). 
What does it say about the error?

Hope this helps!

	Sebastian Meyer

> 
> Some initial research indicated that permission issues can interfere
> with vignette building. I have set Rtools44 to run as an administrator
> and I confirmed that my build directory and all its subdirectories are
> allowed full control by the logged-in windows account.
> 
> The only major difference between these sets of runs and those over
> the last decade is the chip (Ryzen 9800X3D), which for vignettes
> should be irrelevant, and the operating system—Windows 11 Pro instead
> of Windows 10 Home. I don't know which change from R-4-4 to R-devel
> triggers the error or why R-4-4 completes and fails the check. I have
> exhausted my limited knowledge as to how to address the issue. Any
> ideas as to why this may be happening and what I could do would be
> greatly appreciated.
> 
> For completeness:
> 
> R VERSION AND TOOLS
> R-devel version: 87913
> R-4-4-branch:     87913
> Rtools version: 6459
> 
> HARDWARE
> Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-Core Processor
> Installed RAM :192 GB (190 GB usable)
> System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
> 
> OPERATING SYSTEM
> Edition Windows 11 Pro
> Version 24H2
> Installed on ‎3/‎7/‎2025
> OS build 26100.3194
> Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.26100.48.0
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Avi
> 
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