[R] X11/ graphics problem

[Rafael A. Irizarry]

fyi, the default RH9 installation from Dell (and probably other vendors)
does not include the developmental tools. Furthermore, the default in the
RH 9.0 installation CD is not to include the developmental tools.
so, i think you are right in saying that this will become a FAQ.


On Wed, 19 Nov 2003, Marc Schwartz wrote:

> On Wed, 2003-11-19 at 08:47, Stephen Henderson wrote:
> > Hello
> > 
> > I'm moving from using R 1.8 for Windows to using Linux (Redhat version 9)
> > and I cannot get any graphics. However everything else maths, models
> > equations is fine-- and much quicker. I built from the source file following
> > the commands in the install manual.
> > 
> > >plot(1:10, 1:10)
> > 
> > does nothing! So clearly I have a problem with X Windows.
> > 
> > > capabilities()
> >     jpeg      png    tcltk      X11    GNOME     libz http/ftp  sockets
> >    FALSE    FALSE    FALSE    FALSE    FALSE     TRUE     TRUE     TRUE
> >   libxml     fifo   cledit  IEEE754    bzip2     PCRE
> >     TRUE     TRUE     TRUE     TRUE     TRUE     TRUE
> > 
> > I'm guessing from manuals etc that X11 is the problem. I've tried starting R
> > with
> > 
> > R --gui='X11'
> > 
> > but to no avail!
> > 
> > I've also had a look at the requirements under R/bin/linux/redhat/9/i386--
> > but I'm having some trouble mapping these to the gui installation names,
> > though Xfree86 which I presume contains libX11.so.6 is installed. This
> > document also mentions preference for 'gnorpm'. Whats that?
> > 
> > Has anyone else had this problem? have an idea what is likely missing? or
> > how to reconfigure R?
> 
> 
> This seems to be rapidly becoming a FAQ of late.  :-)
> 
> The problem is that when you compile R from source code as opposed to
> using the pre-compiled binaries that Martyn has kindly provided, you
> must have the development libraries for the associated functionality
> installed on your system.
> 
> In this case the requisite RPM will be XFree86-devel-VERSION.NUMBER.
> Presumably, when you installed RH9, you likely did not install all of
> the development tools.
> 
> If you do:
> 
> rpm -q XFree86-devel
> 
> from a terminal console, it will likely indicate that it is not
> installed.
> 
> Lacking this, you cannot compile functionality for the X11() device (the
> screen plotting device) into R. Thus, it is not shown when you use the
> capabilities() function.
> 
> If you have your RH 9 CD's or DVD, you can go to the Add/Remove
> Applications menu program and run that (as root) to add the X
> development libraries, which should be listed under X Software
> Development.
> 
> Notice also that you are missing jpeg and png functionality as well. If
> you are going to be compiling from source code, you should install all
> of the development related tools from the RH CDs/DVD.
> 
> Once you install the additional development related RPMS, you should be
> good to go.
> 
> The 'gnorpm' program is the RH GUI program for installing RPMS as
> opposed to doing it from the command line. There have been notable
> problems using that GUI and most? folks do not use it.
> 
> HTH,
> 
> Marc Schwartz
> 
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