[R] manual installation errors; install.package, R CMD

[Sarah Goslee]

Hi,

On Thu, May 22, 2014 at 8:48 AM, message <letter at openmailbox.org> wrote:
> Readers,
>
> As root user, from the command:
>
> install.packages()
>
> A dialogue window appears to select packages of interest. What to do if a
> specific packages exists on the cran page
> (http://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/available_packages_by_name.html),
> but not in the dialogue window of a repository?
>
> Sometimes, a dependent package is reported as being un-available, e.g.:
>
>> install.packages("mclust")
>
> Warning message:
> In getDependencies(pkgs, dependencies, available, lib) :
>   package ‘mclust’ is not available

It's possible that a package is not available for your OS or version
of R, but you don't tell us either.

> Alternatively, tried the command 'R CMD':
>
> R CMD INSTALL http://cran.r-project.org/src/contrib/ChemoSpec_1.61-3.tar.gz
> Warning: invalid package
> ‘http://cran.r-project.org/src/contrib/ChemoSpec_1.61-3.tar.gz’
> Error: ERROR: no packages specified
>
> The FAQ web page
> (http://cran.r-project.org/doc/FAQ/R-FAQ.html#How-can-add_002don-packages-be-installed_003f)
> states that the above syntax should be accepted.
>
> What is my mistake please?

That FAQ doesn't say that R is capable of downloading it for you: you
need to download the package manually, then use R CMD INSTALL to
install the *local* package.

Sarah


-- 
Sarah Goslee
http://www.functionaldiversity.org