[R] help in R 2.9.x for R 2.10.x packages

[Uwe Ligges]

Dear Michael,

the help system has been rearranged considerably. It is not possible to 
use binary packages prepared under R-2.10.x with earlier versions of R. 
The other way round is also not a really good idea.

Note also that the most recent version of TeachingDemos (2.5) uses help 
markup that does not work with R versions prior to R-2.10.0. You can use 
TeachingDemos 2.4 with R-2.9.x, tough (and that version is still 
available in the Windows binary repository for the R-2.9.x series. Hence 
just say
    install.packages("TeachingDemos")
if you wanto to stay with that "ancient" version of R.

Best wishes,
Uwe






On 29.01.2010 20:34, Michael Friendly wrote:
> [Env: Win Xp]
> Is there any options() setting or call to help() or help.start() that
> will allow me to view a help file for
> a package built under R 2.10.x under R 2.9.2?
>
> I'm using both R 2.9.2 and R 2.10.1, but prefer the former because the
> CHM help is so much easier
> to use. Yet, if I install a package built for R 2.10.x, I can't find
> *any* way to display a help file in this
> package.
>
> For example, after library(TeachinDemos),
>  > ?HWidentify
> Error in print.help_files_with_topic(x) :
> No text help for 'HWidentify' is available:
> corresponding file is missing
> In addition: Warning message:
> In
> print.help_files_with_topic("C:/R/R-2.9.2/library/TeachingDemos/chm/HWidentify")
> :
> No CHM help for 'HWidentify' in package 'TeachingDemos' is available:
> the CHM file for the package is missing
>
> So, I try
>  > help.start()
> updating HTML package listing
> updating HTML search index
> If nothing happens, you should open 'C:\R\R-2.9.2\doc\html\index.html'
> yourself
>
> I can then get to
> file:///C:/R/R-2.9.2/library/TeachingDemos/html/00Index.html
> but then all the links there give Not Found, e.g.,
> file:///C:/R/R-2.9.2/library/TeachingDemos/html/HWidentify.html
>
> and, indeed, C:\R\R-2.9.2\library\TeachingDemos\html contains
> only 00Index.html.
> All the links therein are to .html files in the same directory, so of
> course
> are wrong.
>
> -Michael
>
>