[R] smoothest way to upgrade R, say from 2.6.1 to 2.6.2?

[Gabor Grothendieck]

I think Stefan has answered this so I will just
add this about batchfiles.  In the batchfiles distrirbution:

http://batchfiles.googlecode.com

is a file Rgui.bat.  If you put that anywhere in your path and make
your shortcut to that instead of to R itself then it will find the most
recent version of R from the registry and start that so you don't have
to update shortcuts each time you change R versions.  There are
also Rcmd.bat, sweave.bat and similar versions for the corresponding
tasks.  Using those you never have to set your path to R when
installing or upgrading R on Windows.

The most recent version of batchfiles is for Vista and the next to
most recent is for XP as per home page.

If you do want to move or copy your packages from one library to
another movedir.bat and copydir.bat will do that.  You can then use
checkbuilt if its a major version change.  There are also some other
methods described in the Links on the home page.

On Thu, Mar 13, 2008 at 1:23 PM, Stefan Grosse <singularitaet at gmx.net> wrote:
> On Thursday 13 March 2008 06:05:15 pm Galkowski, Jan wrote:
> GJ> (1) How do people manage an upgrade, from 2.6.1, say, to 2.6.2?  2.6.2
> GJ> will create its own subdirectory, obliging a copy of library contents to
> GJ> the new spot.  The documents are easier.
>
> You forgot to enlighten us about your system. From what you are telling I
> would guess its Windows (XP?). On my windows machine I install R in the very
> same directory of the old R. So you could create programs/R and there install
> your R but of course you must then alternate the suggested directory during
> the installation.
>
> GJ>
> GJ> (2) The problem with simply copying library contents is a fear of upward
> GJ> incompatibilities.  Am I worrying for naught here?  Are packages upward
> GJ> compatible but possibly not downwardly so?
>
> There is no problem within minor releases like 2.6.1 -> 2.6.2 but on
> greater "jumps" update.packages offers the option checkbuilt which if set
> TRUE updates the packages to their next built. So if 2.7.0 is released and
> you install that are over your old you should enable this option.
>
>
> GJ> (3) What about changing shortcuts, places for .Rprofile and the like?
> GJ> Do people have scripts that do all these things at once?
>
> See above
>
> GJ>
> GJ> It would be nice to have a single control file where R binaries and
> GJ> libraries and the like could be specified.  That way, all that would
> GJ> need to be done is edit one file with an uptick on a point release
> GJ> number, say, and things would be fine.
>
> I don't think this is necessary.
>
> Cheers
> Stefan
>
>
>
> --
> Microeconomics
> University of Erfurt
>
>
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