[R] how to use a script file for all the codes?

[Prof Brian Ripley]

On Sun, 4 Jul 2004, Jiacheng Yuan wrote:

> I am using the windows version R1.9.0.
> I used to be a Splus user. When I used Splus to try some computation, I like 
> to put all my codes in a script file and check them line by line. This way I 
> can keep track of all my thinking and it's very easy to make correction at 
> some earlier steps.
> 
> Now I can not find this script-file style in R. The software itself doesn't 
> seem to have a script file editor. I can only use other editor software 
> (e.g., notepad) to write a ".R" file, and then "source" it in R. It's not 
> convenient to debug in this way.

You are not expected to.  I usually copy and paste from an external
editor, and rarely use source.  Both S(-PLUS) and R have long had modes
for editors allowing much more than the S-PLUS script windows: indeed they
were copied from such modes.  Take a look at

http://cran.r-project.org/other-software.html

In ESS (and I believe R-WinEdt) you can submit code by highlighting and 
using an editor command.

> Any one can help me?

You can already display a file in RGui using the File menu, and highlight
lines there and submit them.  If you want to change them, use up-arrow and 
edit them in the commands buffer.

You could also try the R-devel prerelease (on CRAN), as it can edit such a
displayed file.

-- 
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