[R] error message when downloading packages using the OS X shell

[David Winsemius]

On Feb 15, 2010, at 8:58 PM, Jessica Joganic wrote:

> Hi Fellow R Users,
> I recently upgraded to Mac OS X 10.5 (Snow Leopard) and had some  
> issues
> downloading and running R 2.10.1. I fixed the tcl/tk problem I was
> originally having but it was replaced with another. I run R out of  
> the shell
> (terminal) and when I ask it to download.packages() it gives me the
> following message:
>
> *Loading Tcl/Tk interface ... done*
> *Error in file.info(x) : argument "destdir" is missing, with no  
> default*
> *
> *

I am a bit puzzled by that function call. I would have expected there  
to be some arguments in the call. What were you expecting to be the  
results?  After I run that function, I get a window of CRAN sites to  
choose and after choosing the CMU site I get:

 > download.packages()
--- Please select a CRAN mirror for use in this session ---
Loading Tcl/Tk interface ... done
Error in file.info(x) : argument "destdir" is missing, with no default

> I searched around on the help archives and various online message  
> boards and
> the most I could discern was that the directory where the library is  
> located
> isn't being recognized by R (it should recognize it by default). I  
> tried
> setting the "destdir" argument manually to no avail. I am able to
> successfully download and install packages with no problem if I run  
> the
> actual R program out of the Applications folder,

Heh, the thing you are calling the "actual R program" is probably the  
R-GUI, typically named R.app or R64.app, and it is a front-end to the  
R executable.

> however I prefer to use the
> shell. I did find one mention of a recognized issue with OS X 10.5  
> and R
> 2.10.1 conflicting when trying to download packages, which results  
> in the
> library pathway being broken. The only problem is the fix for this  
> problem

> given in the R manual doesn't work. Has anyone had a similar problem  
> or have
> any ideas as to how to solve this?

It happens for me as well, but I guess I don't see it as a problem,  
since I did not offer a sensible set of arguments to the function.  
(Plus, I always use the GUI despite Rolf Turner's efforts to shame me  
into being a terminal dude.) You may want to post follow-ups to the  
Mac-SIG mailing list where this would be amore appropriate question:

https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-sig-mac
>
-- 

David Winsemius, MD
Heritage Laboratories
West Hartford, CT