[R] ? data.entry "read-only" ?

[Prof Brian Ripley]

There are I believe three separate data displays behind data.entry (on 
Xll, Windows and Aqua).  As far as I know none of them allow much 
customization, or to be read-only.

I had thought about a read-only version of the first two, but then
realized that people happily use spreadsheets for display, as well as data
editors in several other packages.  What is more important is that the
data editors are modal (at least the first two), so you cannot leave them
open whilst working on a dataset, since you will not be able to get back
to the prompt.  Read-only non-modal versions might be worth pursuing.

On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 Ted.Harding at nessie.mcc.ac.uk wrote:

> Hi Folks,
> 
> The spreadsheet-like layout displayed when 'data.entry' is
> invoked is very useful simply for legible display of data,
> quite apart from its intended use for the purpose of entering
> or editing data.
> 
> If one wants to use it _simply_ as a display device, so that
> one can look around inside a data-set while working on it,
> then it is not a good idea to have its _editing_ capabilities
> active: this is dangerous, since an inadvertent keystroke
> could change the data.
> 
> So: is there a way to invoke 'data.entry' in "read-only"
> mode? Or some other function with equivalent display which
> can be run "read-only"?
> 
> [Bonus question: is there a way to change its cosmetics,
>  e.g. background colour, font, ... ?]
> 
> With thanks,
> Ted.

-- 
Brian D. Ripley,                  ripley at stats.ox.ac.uk
Professor of Applied Statistics,  http://www.stats.ox.ac.uk/~ripley/
University of Oxford,             Tel:  +44 1865 272861 (self)
1 South Parks Road,                     +44 1865 272866 (PA)
Oxford OX1 3TG, UK                Fax:  +44 1865 272595