[R] Installing local package under Windows.

[Peter Dalgaard BSA]

Rolf Turner <rolf at math.unb.ca> writes:

> I cannot get this locally built package to install under
> this Windows system.  (The package was built under Unix, and
> installs there, with no complaints.)
> 
> I have been trying to follow the instructions in the ``R Installation
> and Administration'' guide, section 5.1 ``Installing packages.''
> 
> I proceeded as follows:
> 	
> 1. Uploaded the zip file ``ts.sup_0.0-0.tar.gz'' from the
>    Unix box to the Windows system, via ftp (binary mode set).

Whoops. There's your first problem. A .tar.gz file is not a zip file.
The 2nd problem is that this is a *source* package, whereas most of
the Windows procedures assume prepackaged binaries (and they are not
the same, even with no C/Fortran code involved).
 
> 4. Clicked on the Packages button of the R gui, and then on
> 
>    Install package from local zip file...
 
> 5. An application box popped up as a result; I had to type in
>    the name of the zip file since the point-and-click seemed to
>    insist that the extension be ``.zip'' (whereas it was/is actually
>    ``.gz''.

...so those steps are not going to work!
 
The correct steps are outlined in the src/gnuwin32/readme.packages
file in the source distribution. I think you can get away with
following the instructions near the end;

----
If you have a Unix/Linux box, it will suffice to zip up the Unix
installation of the package.  Install the package, then

        cd `R RHOME`/library
        zip -r9l /dest/mypkg.zip mypkg

(the -l flag converts to CRLF line endings: it is not necessary but
users may want to read the information files in a Windows editor).
----

Otherwise you'll have to install the tools and abide by the
instructions under "Simple ports". (In Brians typical style, these
instructions are generally accurate, but somewhat unforgiving. You
have to make sure that you read exactly what they say and not what you
think they probably ought to say...)

-- 
   O__  ---- Peter Dalgaard             Blegdamsvej 3  
  c/ /'_ --- Dept. of Biostatistics     2200 Cph. N   
 (*) \(*) -- University of Copenhagen   Denmark      Ph: (+45) 35327918
~~~~~~~~~~ - (p.dalgaard at biostat.ku.dk)             FAX: (+45) 35327907
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