While installing software on a new computer, I thought I would try to use
Cygwin to build an R package.  (Note: NOT Ripley/Murdoch's Rtools).

I uncovered and solved two issues, one of which appears to be identical to a
problem previously reported (and unsolved) on this list.  I offer this
information in case it will be helpful.

(1) Cygwin defaults to UNIX mode when installed, but it appears to be
necessary to choose DOS/text mode in order to build R packages.

> Rcmd check mypkg

* checking for working latex ... OK
* using log directory 'x:/Rpkgs/mypkg.Rcheck'
' __ignored__  R version 2.4.1 (2006-12-18)
* checking for file 'mypkg/DESCRIPTION' ... OK
* checking extension type ... Package
* this is package 'mypkg' version '1.0'
* checking package dependencies ... ERROR
During startup - Warning messages:
' in: library(package, lib.loc = lib.loc, character.only = TRUE, logical =
TRUE,
 in options("defaultPackages") was not found


Manual inspection the mypkg.Rcheck/00install.log file shows:

* using log directory 'x:/Rpkgs/mypkg.Rcheck'

* using ARGUMENT '
' __ignored__  R version 2.4.1 (2006-12-18)


and so forth.  The problem for me was that Cygwin was installed using the
recommended UNIX mode.  I re-ran the cygwin installer and installed a simple
package (Games/fortune is a nice one) and chose DOS/text mode for files,
which solved this problem.


(2) Do not use make-3.81.

> Rcmd build mypkg

Using auto-selected zip options ' mypkg-HELP=ziponly'
c:/R/R241/src/gnuwin32/MakePkg:89: *** multiple target patterns.  Stop.
make[1]: *** [pkg-mypkg] Error 2
*** Installation of mypkg failed ***

Looking in mypkg/00install.out is more helpful:

c:/R/R241/src/gnuwin32/MakePkg:118: *** target pattern contains no `%'.
Stop.
make: *** [pkg-mypkg] Error 2
*** Installation of my failed ***

This appears to be a problem with the current (Jan 2007) version of make
(make 3.81) which appears to drop support for Windows paths that contain a
colon. See: http://www.cygwin.com/ml/cygwin/2006-07/msg00373.html

make 3.80 is available here:
http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Windows_Build_Prerequisites

Once I downgraded make from version 3.81 to version 3.80, I was able to
build R packages.

My setup: Windows XP Pro, R 2.4.1, current Cygwin.


Kevin Wright

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