[R] Design library installation problem

[Uwe Ligges]

Ian Watson wrote:
> Dear Listers
> 
> I have tried to install Frank Harrell's two libaries: Hmisc 
> and Design.
> 
> I found that Hmisc was listed in the list of packages from 
> the Install Packages command on the Packages menu, but 
> Design was not. I installed Hmisc from this list, and when I 
>   issued the library(Hmisc) command, it loaded into memory 
> correctly.
> 
> I then copied the Design 1.1-1.zip file from the 
> http://lib.stat.cmu.edu/S/Harrell/library/r/ site and used 
> the Install Packages from Local Zip file command.
> I received no error messages and a visual inspection of the 
> R\library directory shows Design has been installed.
> 
> However, when I issued the library(Design) command I get the 
> following error message:
> 
> Error in library(Design) : 'Design' is not a valid package 
> -- installed < 2.0.0?
> 
> 
> I also notice, from a visual inspection of the 
> R\library\Design\R directory that there is only one file: 
> design. In other directories, eg. R\library\Hmisc\R there 
> are usually 3 files:
> Hmisc
> Hmisc.rdx
> Hmisc.rdb
> 
> I am new to R, and a bit lost. I have read the R-admin.pdf 
> documentation on packages but am still unsure how to proceed 
> from here.
> 
> I would appreciate any advice, and any answers to the 
> following questions:
> 
> 1) is there a reason why Design is not listed in the Install 
> Packages list as Hmisc is?

Yes. The current version does not pass the checks under Windows. Please 
convince the maintainer to fix the package, and a binary will be made 
available shortly.


> 2) have I done the correct thing by way of manual 
> installation of Design?

Not quite: If you want to install a binary package, it must fit to your 
OS *and* to your version of R. The file you used is for an ancient 
version of R (given its date!).



> 3) is the absence of 2 other Design files (rdx, rdb) the 
> reason for my failed installation?


More or less, see 2.



> 4) what should I try now?


See 1 or install Design from sources. Attention: it will probably still 
fail its checks.

CCing to maintainer and author of Design, since the becomes a frequently 
asked questions (and nobody checks the mailing list archive before 
posting, obviously).

Uwe Ligges




> I am using R.2.5.0 on Windows XP.
> 
> Kind regards
> Ian
> 
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