[R] how to link different versions of R

[S Ellison]

> -----Original Message-----
> I had downloaded the package zoo under R version 3.0.0. Afterwards i
> downloaded R version 3.0.2 on the same workstation. Is it possible to  use
> the zoo package from 3.0.0. in 3.0.2.
Usually a slightly older package version will work with a more recent version of R and vice versa, though you will get warnings at load time unless you build from source yourself against the relevant installation. So yes, in the restricted sense that if you are lucky and the version changes have not resulted in incompatibility, it can be done. You may be able to get away with simply copying the old library from the previous installations library directory to the new one.
But it sounds decidedly unwise and in general packages built for one version of R are not guaranteed to run correctly, or at all, for another version. Most folk would, I guess, recommend very strongly that you don't do that.

> Is it possible to upgrade from version 3.0.1 to 3.0.2 for example   without
> downloading afresh and retain  the packages already installed in an earlier
> version.
Yes, in the sense that it is possible to shoot yourself in the foot and hope you miss and can walk afterwards. 
See above: broadly, not a good idea.

S Ellison


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