installing RMySQL gives error RS-MySQL.h:32:19: fatal error: mysql.h: No such file

Question

I tried to install the RMySQL-library (R version 2.14.2, WinXP on 32bit) but got the following error message:

install.packages("D:/R/library/RMySQL_0.9-3.tar.gz",repos=NULL, type="source")

...

RS-MySQL.h:32:19: fatal error: mysql.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.
make: *** [RS-MySQL.o] Error 1
ERROR: compilation failed for package 'RMySQL'
* removing 'C:/Dokumente und Einstellungen/Giordano/R/win-library/2.14/RMySQL'
Warning message:
In install.packages("D:/R/library/RMySQL_0.9-3.tar.gz", repos = NULL,  :
  installation of package 'D:/R/library/RMySQL_0.9-3.tar.gz' had non-zero exit status

This is only a part of the output which contains the error message. I do not understand this message and maybe somebode can give me some advices. Thanks for help. giordano.

Calces

My first advice would be to read the documentation on installing this package from source. Just scanning it revealed a potential answer. – Lockup

I second @joran's advice, but I would encourage you to read the error message carefully... especially the part about "mysql.h: No such file or directory". – Loreanloredana

I posted a bit more informative answer, maybe not the best option if I want the OP to learn how to fish :) – Catechist

@to all, thanks for the reply: yes, I read it. But I didn't understand what the problem is. Yes, I assumed that the problem has to do with mysql.h. But what is mysql.h? How can I solve this problem? – Calces

Answer 1

Some pointers to installing mysql header libraries are found here :

https://github.com/jeffreyhorner/RMySQL

(site seems to have moved here now)

http://biostat.mc.vanderbilt.edu/wiki/Main/RMySQL

Key is to have a Renviron.site file in the R\etc folder and having libmysql.dll in the correct places before compiling from source.

good luck.

Libava

Answer 2

R cannot find the MySQL header files that it needs to build the package. As the documentation states:

You need to have installed 'C Include Files / Lib Files' as part of your MySQL installation when installing the MySQL binary distribution.

The fix is to install the MySQL header files.

Catechist

Thanks for the reply. So, I have to reinstall MySQL? Or is there another way to get this library and if yes, where to install? The strange thing is that I used MySQL/R since many years and had no problem. Since the new version of R I installed recently I have this kind problem. So, does the old version of R/RMySQL works without MySQL.h and the new needs this header? this is realy confusing. – Calces

Take a good look at the documentation, I think the information you are looking should be there. I don not have any experience with mysql under windows, so I have a hard time giving you better advice then to read the manual. – Catechist

Answer 3

You will never get a RMySQL precompiled binary package for Windows, because before installing it checks for validity of the MySQL path & other include files.

Sporophyll

Answer 4

I had this same issue. What I found out was that installer was placing temp files in my default working directory which I had edited in the Rprofile.site file. When it tried to subsequently use these files (including mysql.h) it could not find them. When I restored the Rprofile.site file to default, everything worked nicely. Hopefully this helps if nothing else did.

Orvah