Creating an Access (.mdb) database using R

Hello!

I have a short question:  Is it possible to create a
(non-existing) Access database using R (and if yes,
how)?  I need to create a new database and then insert
a few tables into it.

Short answer: yes, if you are using Windows (you did not say).

Slightly longer answer 1:

If you have the ODBC drivers installed,

library(RODBC)
ch <- odbcDriverConnect("Driver={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}")

will allow you to create a database and select it.

Slightly longer answer 2:

Use DCOM to control Access if you have that installed.  I'll leave you to 
do your own homework on this one.

Brian D. Ripley,                  ripley at stats.ox.ac.uk
Professor of Applied Statistics,  http://www.stats.ox.ac.uk/~ripley/
University of Oxford,             Tel:  +44 1865 272861 (self)
1 South Parks Road,                     +44 1865 272866 (PA)
Oxford OX1 3TG, UK                Fax:  +44 1865 272595