[R] File > Save As...

[Duncan Murdoch]

On 11-03-14 5:03 PM, Gene Leynes wrote:
> As much as I love R, there are still the occasional shortcomings.
>
> I would love to find a solution to the "save as..." problem.
>
> Steps to reproduce the problem:
>
>     1. Open any version of he R GUI in Windows
>     2. Choose "File>  Open" from the menu
>     3. Open a script that is in a different directory
>     4. Choose "File>  Save As" from the menu
>
> In just about any other application you would be presented with a GUI
> showing the current folder of the script and the current name of the
> script.  You could then edit the name and save.
>
> In R, you have to find the directory of the script and the script name.  It
> can be annoying from a GUI perspective, especially if you typically work in
> one directory and store your scripts somewhere else, and the problem is
> worse when you have many script versions or directories.
>
> I know there are many ways to work around this issue.
> I also know about the batch file project.
>
> However, it seems like this is something that users shouldn't *need* to work
> around.
>
> I think this is related to the fact that R has no way of knowing the
> location of any open script file.
> (Please correct me if I'm wrong about that last part! )
>
> I think this has come up before, but I couldn't find it in my searches.
> Is this a problem for other users as well?
> Should I post this to the development list?
> Is this change known to be possible / impossible?
> Can I help make the change?

I think it's simply a matter of different working patterns.  R offers 
the current working directory to save into.  For some people, that's 
fine.  Others (like you) want some other default.

I don't think we want to make the editor so elaborate that it caters to 
every taste.  If you want a better editor, there are lots out there, 
including several that have good integration with R (Emacs, Eclipse, 
WinEdt, TinnR, etc.)  I think it would be best to use one of those 
editors, customized to suit your needs.

Duncan Murdoch

>
> Thanks
>
> Gene
>
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>
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