updateR: Checks for the latest R version, and if there is a newer version of R - downloads and installs it.

Description

This function performs the following steps:

Check what is the latest R version. If the current installed R version is up-to-date, the function ends (and returns FALSE)
If a newer version of R is available, the user is asked if to review the NEWS of the latest R version - in order to decide if to install the newest R or not.
If the user wishes to - the function will download and install it. (you will need to press the "next" buttons on your own)
Once the installation is done, you should press "any-key", and the function will proceed with copying all of your packages from your old (well, current) R installation, into your newer R installation.
You can then erase all of the packages in your old R installation.
After your packages are moved (and the old ones possibly erased), you will get the option to update all of your packages in the new version of R.
You will be asked if to open the Rgui of your new R.
Lastely - you can close the current session of your old R.

Usage

updateR(fast = FALSE, browse_news, install_R, copy_packages,
  copy_Rprofile.site, keep_old_packages, update_packages, start_new_R, quit_R,
  print_R_versions = TRUE, GUI = TRUE, to_checkMD5sums = FALSE,
  keep_install_file = FALSE, download_dir = tempdir(), silent = FALSE,
  setInternet2 = TRUE, ...)

Arguments

fast

logical (default is FALSE). If TRUE, it overrides other parameters and uses a set of defaults to make the R installation as fast as possible: no news, installr R, copy packages and Rprofile, keep old packages, updated packages, without quiting current R

browse_news

if TRUE (and if there is a newer version of R) - it opens the browser to the NEWS of the latest version of R, for the user to read through

install_R

TRUE/FALSE - if to install a new version of R (if one is available). If missing (this is the default) - the user be asked if to download R or not.Of course the installation part itself (the running of the .exe file) is dependent on the user.

copy_packages

TRUE/FALSE - if to copy your packages from the old version of R to the new version of R. If missing (this is the default) - the user will be asked for his preference (he should say yes, unless he is using a global library folder).

copy_Rprofile.site

logical - if to copy your Rprofile.site from the old version of R to the new version of R. If missing (this is the default) - the user will be asked for his preference (he should say yes, unless he is using a global library folder).

keep_old_packages

- if the keep the packages in the library of the old R installation. If missing (this is the default) - the user will be asked for his preference (he should say yes, unless he is using a global library folder).

update_packages

TRUE/FALSE - if to update your packages in the new version of R (all packages will be updated without asking confirmation per package) If missing (this is the default) - the user will be asked for his preference (he should say yes, unless he is using a g

start_new_R

TRUE/FALSE - if to start the new R (Rgui) after we will quit the old R. Default is TRUE. It will try to start the 64 bit R version, if it does not exist, the 32 bit will be started. This may be less useful for people using RStudio or the likes.

quit_R

TRUE/FALSE - if to quite R after the installation and package copying or not. If missing (this is the default) - the user is asked what to do.

print_R_versions

if to tell the user what version he has and what is the latest version (default is TRUE)

GUI

a logical indicating whether a graphics menu should be used if available. If TRUE, and on Windows, it will use winDialog, otherwise it will use menu.

to_checkMD5sums

Should we check that the new R installation has the files we expect it to (by checking the MD5 sums)? default is TRUE. It assumes that the R which was isntalled is the latest R version. parameter is passed to install.R()

keep_install_file

If TRUE - the installer file will not be erased after it is downloaded and run.

download_dir

A character of the directory into which to download the file. (default is tempdir())

silent

If TRUE - enables silent installation mode.

setInternet2

logical. Should setInternet2(TRUE) be run.

...

Other arguments (this is currently not used in any way)

Value

a TRUE/FALSE value on whether or not R was updated.

Details

It is worth noting that the function assumes that you are installing R in the same directory as before. That is, if the old R was on: D:RR-3.0.0 then the new R will be on D:RR-3.0.1.

Examples

Run this code

updateR(TRUE) # This sets "fast" to be TRUE
# # the fastest/safest upgrade option: 
# install R while keeping a copy in the working directory,
# copy packages, keep old packages, 
# update packages in the new installation.

updateR() # will ask you what you want at every decision.

Run the code above in your browser using DataLab