Dear R colleagues, is there an easier way to write R packages for the own use - without RTools and TeX?
With R versions < 2.10.0 it was very easy to write a package. Under the path with the package name you wrote a description file and built some directories like "help", "html" and "R" with the special files in a "hand-operated" way. In the next step I constructed the MD5 check sum file with a program like "md5summer". Packing the directory with a zipper - and the package work was finished.
Ok, this was not the official way. And now (R versions > 2.10.0) this method will not be successful and R doesn't accept those packages. But just for me the official rules writing a package cost a lot of time if I look to the result I get. My functions are very specific and have something to do with several computers I use. So I have not the intention to upload this package to CRAN. From the point of the costs e. g. I had to learn writing help files in a TeX-like language. But I'm the typical Word user. My last TeX writings were done in the 1990s! If I'm changing only a letter in a source file (r-file or help file) I've to build a new package. Seeing the results in my eyes this is a very expansive way. It's easier to me to write those files in HTML and to change the HTML source code. I don't need help files in Rd format.
Does anyone know a easier way? If not just a question to the members of the R Development Core Team: Could you imagine to open an alternative way of writing packages? Is it possible to that new versions of R will again accept the build of packages like in R versions < 2.10.0? Don't misunterstand me: I absolutely agree that R packages which should become part of CRAN must obey to official rules like described in the manuals. But I think you can controll this while uploading a package to CRAN. In my eyes an alternative, easier way writing a R package would help first-time users and typical MS Word damaged people like me.
Thanks for your help in advance! Greetings from Muenster/Germany Dr. Michael Wolf (E-Mail: m-w...@muenster.de) ______________________________________________ R-help@r-project.org mailing list https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.
