[R] comments on documentation

[hzi]

> I also had a good deal of trouble trying to import an SPSS file. I
> found and installed the foreign package without too much trouble but
> didn't realize I had to load it before I could use it :-(.

I hadn´t realized this unitl now :-) Very helpful.

 Reading
> The Fine Manual helped eventually, but it would be useful to provide
> a bit more information in the "R Import/Export" documentation.
>
I agree. Totally.

>
> An example along these lines would help newbies a lot, I think. I
> also disagree with the import/export documentation, that importing
> files from foreign packages should be avoided (chapter 3). This will
> often be the starting point for new users who have most of their data
> in a foreign format and will usually be the quickest and most
> practical method in any case.
>
You´ve got a very good point here, and I subscribe to that view "verbatim".

> John Hendrickx
>
So...Is there such a thing in the R community as a Documentation team (like
you have the LDP 0 Linux Documentation Project)?
You see, it´s like that japanese martial art Aikido: newbies give you a
rough ride, because they don´t know the movements by heart. Likewise, what
may seem like a clear explanation to "gurus" may actually be quite
unsatisfactory from a newbie´s view point. This is not to say that is poorly
written, it´s just that we don´t read the documentation with the same eyes
an "experienced" person does. All too often, it has been my experience with
the open-source community, the documentation lacks little tiny details that
are just so important...


Best reagards to all,
and thank you for all the replies,

Henry L.

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