[R-SIG-Mac] Can't get help.start() to work.

[Duncan Murdoch]

On 28/10/2009 9:04 PM, Rolf Turner wrote:
> Under my newly installed version of R, 2.10.0, help.start() refuses
> to perform.  When I issue the command I get a ``Host is unreachable''
> message from the browser (which is Firefox, version 3.5.3).
> 
> I have seen things about funnies with help under 2.10.0 but have
> not properly comprehended them.  I am not sure if they apply to my
> situation.  I did a bit of scrounging through recent postings to
> R-help and could not find anything relevant. Can someone tell me
> ***in monosyllables*** ( :-) ) how to get help.start() to work?
> 
> Session info:
> 
>> R version 2.10.0 Patched (2009-10-27 r50222)
>> i386-apple-darwin8.11.1
>>
>> locale:
>> [1] C
>>
>> attached base packages:
>> [1] datasets  utils     stats     graphics  grDevices methods   base
>>
>> other attached packages:
>> [1] misc_0.0-11    fortunes_1.3-6 MASS_7.3-3
>>
>> loaded via a namespace (and not attached):
>> [1] tools_2.10.0
> 
> I have attached, in pdf form, a screen shot of the message I get
> in the Firefox window when help.start() fails.

The problem appears to be with "WebMarshal Proxy".  I don't know if you 
have any control over this, or it comes from your IT department, but you 
need to tell it to let Firefox connect to R on your own machine (address 
127.0.0.1) if you want help.start() to work.  If that requires you to 
set a particular port number (or range) for R to use, see the 
?tools::startDynamicHelp page for details.

You may find that the GUI works better.  It doesn't use Firefox, it has 
its own built in browser, and it's conceivable that it will avoid going 
through the proxy.

Duncan Murdoch

> Thanks for any enlightenment.
> 
> 	cheers,
> 
> 		Rolf Turner
> 
> 
> ######################################################################
> Attention: 
> This e-mail message is privileged and confidential. If you are not the 
> intended recipient please delete the message and notify the sender. 
> Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author.
> 
> This e-mail has been scanned and cleared by MailMarshal 
> www.marshalsoftware.com
> ######################################################################
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ######################################################################
> Attention: 
> This e-mail message is privileged and confidential. If you are not the 
> intended recipient please delete the message and notify the sender. 
> Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author.
> 
> This e-mail has been scanned and cleared by MailMarshal 
> www.marshalsoftware.com
> ######################################################################
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> R-SIG-Mac mailing list
> R-SIG-Mac at stat.math.ethz.ch
> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-sig-mac