External Packages
17 External Packages
R comes complete with its base libraries and often some
``recommended'' packages. You can extend your version of
R by
installing additional packages. A package is a collection of functions
and data sets that are ``packaged'' up for easy installation. There
are several (over 150) packages available from
http://cran.r-project.org/.
If you want to add a new package to your system, the process is very
easy. On Unix, you simply issue a command such
R CMD INSTALL package_name.tgz
If you have the proper authority, that should be it. Painless.
On Windows you can do the same
Rcmd INSTALL package_name.zip
but this likely won't work as Rcmd won't be on your path, etc. You are
better off using your mouse and the menus available in the GUI
version. Look for the install packages menu item and select the
package you wish to install.
The installation of a package may require compilation of some C or Fortran
code. usually, a Windows machine does not have such a compiler, so authors
typically provide a pre-compiled package in zip format.
For more details, please consult the ``
R Installation and
Administrator'' manual.
Copyright © John Verzani, 2001-2. All rights reserved.