[R] URL error when trying to use help function in R [Sec: UNOFFICIAL]

[David Winsemius]

On Sep 9, 2010, at 6:34 PM, Gosse, Michelle wrote:

> Greetings,
>
> I am using R version 2.11.1 on a Dell computer, via a VMware  
> connection to a remote server. My browser version is IE  
> 8.0.6001.18702 and the OS is some corporate version of Microsoft XP.
>
> I'm trying to learn more about the tapply function , so I typed ? 
> tapply into the command line. This opened up a browser window with  
> url http://127.0.0.1:28138/library/base/html/tapply.html which is  
> giving me an error message.
> I receive the same problem when trying for help on other commands,  
> e.g. ?table http://127.0.0.1:28138/library/base/html/table.html and ? 
> log http://127.0.0.1:28138/library/base/html/Log.html
>
> I did a whois on 127.0.0.1

That should always be your own computer. The browser is trying to  
reach a server on itself over port 28138 and either the port is  
blocked or you don't have the documentation at that location.


> via www.geektools.com<http://www.geektools.com> and got the  
> information boxed below, which suggests I'm not going where I am  
> supposed to be going when I ask for help.

I suppose you could use that terminology, but you should check the  
specification of the "browser" entry in your options(). Does the  
remote server have the documentation in a library directory? Can you  
get the sysadmin for that device to give you the locations of the files?

?options
options()$browser  # would at least tell you where you system thinks  
it should be going.

If you restrict Baron's help search to only this year's questions  
containing "help server browser" you get:
http://search.r-project.org/cgi-bin/namazu.cgi?query=help+server+browser&max=100&result=normal&sort=score&idxname=functions&idxname=Rhelp10

-- 
David.


> I'm assuming this problem is associated with my VMware link to the  
> server.
>
> Is anyone else running this type of connection through to R and, if  
> so, could they please advise how to remove the issue? I've been able  
> to bring in my data table fine, and do some commands on it, the  
> issue so far appears related only to help files. I'm assuming this  
> is because the help files call a URL that, in my case, appears to be  
> incorrect (whereas the R commands are not calling a URL and  
> therefore are working fine).
>
> I found this earlier thread: https://bugs.r-project.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=14155 
>  however, the commentary says the bug was fixed.
>
>
> Final results obtained from whois.arin.net.
> Results:
> #
> # The following results may also be obtained via:
> # http://whois.arin.net/rest/nets;q=127.0.0.1?showDetails=true&showARIN=false
> #
>
> NetRange: 127.0.0.0 - 127.255.255.255
> CIDR: 127.0.0.0/8
> OriginAS:
> NetName: SPECIAL-IPV4-LOOPBACK-IANA-RESERVED
> NetHandle: NET-127-0-0-0-1
> Parent:
> NetType: IANA Special Use
> Comment: This block is assigned for use as the Internet
> Comment: host loopback address. Datagrams sent to
> Comment: addresses anywhere within this block loops back
> Comment: inside the host. Many implementation only
> Comment: support this for 127.0.0.1. This block was
> Comment: assigned by the IETF in the Standard document,
> Comment: RFC 1122 and is further documented in the Best
> Comment: Current Practice document RFC 5735. These
> Comment: documents can be found at:
> Comment: http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc1122.txt
> Comment: http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5735.txt
> RegDate:
> Updated: 2010-04-14
> Ref: http://whois.arin.net/rest/net/NET-127-0-0-0-1
>
> [extraneous detail here deleted]
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Michelle
>
> Michelle Gosse
> Consumer and Social Sciences
> Food Standards Australia New Zealand
> 108 The Terrace
> Wellington
> New Zealand
> ph: 0064-4-978-5652
> email: michelle.gosse at foodstandards.govt.nz<mailto:michelle.gosse at foodstandards.govt.nz 
> >
>
>
> **********************************************************************
> This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
> intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
> are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
> the system manager.
>
> This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
> MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.
>
> www.clearswift.com
> **********************************************************************
>
>
>
> 	[[alternative HTML version deleted]]
>
> ______________________________________________
> R-help at r-project.org mailing list
> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
> PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
> and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.

David Winsemius, MD
West Hartford, CT