[R] Package development on Windows - latest guidance?

[Duncan Murdoch]

On 10/28/2006 10:49 AM, Michael Prager wrote:
> I would like to start building R packages under Windows XP.  I
> have programming experience and a minimal but working knowlege
> of many Unix (-like) programming tools. The package functions
> (for now) will be from R source, not C or Fortran.
> 
> I've installed Rtools, Perl, the MS hhc, and so on.  I am
> setting up a command shell with the correct PATH for building
> packages.  (The master Windows PATH points to different
> versions of make and grep that I prefer for my usual work.)
> 
> Two questions:
> 
> 1.  GUIDANCE.  Is the Peter Rossi document now the best place
> to look for detailed guidance?  I have located it at
> 
> http://www1.appstate.edu/~arnholta/Software/MakingPackagesUnderWindows.pdf
> 
> The links to it on the R Project Website are no longer good. I
> am also reading at the latest version of "Writing R
> Extensions."

An appendix of the R Installation and Administration manual is kept up 
to date with each release; the web page 
(http://www.murdoch-sutherland.com/Rtools/) contains the most current 
information.

> 
> 2. LATEX.  In Rossi's paper, fpTeX is recommended (I use VTeX
> in everyday work).  However, fpTeX has been discontinued by
> the author.  What is the best way to get an R-compatible TeX
> installation for this work? (or might I get VTeX working --
> its command line is idiosyncratic but it can create PDF, DVI,
> or HTML directly from LaTeX source)?

I use mikTeX.

Duncan Murdoch