Install packages to non-default lib on Windows
Seth Falcon wrote:
We are trying to setup a Windows server that will allow any of our users to build a binary R package given a source package. The idea is to have a central R installation and allow users to install packages to their own package library for the purposes of binary package building. It seems, however, that write access to $R_HOME is required as part of the install step even when -l is used to specify an alternate package library. here's an example of what we're seeing: C:\rlibdir\hpages>set R_LIBS=c:\rlibdir\hpages C:\rlibdir\hpages>d:\biocbld\R-devel\bin\R CMD INSTALL -l=%R_LIBS% --build Biobase_1.6.7.tar.gz Using auto-selected zip options 'Biobase-ZIPDATA=zip Biobase-HELP=ziponly' ---------- Making package Biobase ------------ adding build stamp to DESCRIPTION installing NAMESPACE file and metadata making DLL ... ... DLL made installing DLL installing R files save image Loading required package: tools Creating a new generic function for 'ncol' in 'Biobase' installing inst files installing data files installing man source files installing indices cannot create d:/biocbld/R-devel/doc/html/search/index.txt: permission denied make[2]: *** [indices] Error 2 make[1]: *** [all] Error 2 make: *** [pkg-Biobase] Error 2 *** Installation of Biobase failed *** Removing 'c:/rlibdir/hpages/Biobase' Questions: - Is it possible to build a binary package on Windows without write access to the $R_HOME tree? - Is it still the case that a side-effect of building a binary package is having that package be installed? My understanding is that R CMD INSTALL --build is the way to get zips on Windows, but maybe this changed?
There are two ways: R CMD INSTALL --build, and R CMD build --binary. The latter doesn't do an install, so the links in help pages don't get generated properly, but it may do a good enough job for what you need. Duncan Murdoch