running R from windows command prompt

Question

I have a R program in a txt file say "functions.txt".
I load the "functions.txt" file the R using source("function.txt") and then call functions f1(), f2() etc. which are declared and defined within "function.txt" file.
I also need to load a couple of R libraries using library() before I can use f1(), f2() etc.

My question is can I acheive all this (i.e. calling function f1() and f2()) from the windows prompt without opening the R environment ?

So essentially I want to

1. load the R libraries I need to run f1(), f2() etc.
2. load the function.txt file
3. run the individual functions f1() etc.
4. record the result

all from from the command promt of windows c:\>

I have windows version of R installed in my computers.
It would be very kind of anyone to give a detailed answer as I am not very computer savvy.

Regards

Lacy

Rscript.exe is your friend. #3413411 – Fuld

Answer 1

Bart's post is correct, but this can be done simpler. If the code

f1 <- function() {
  print("A")
}

f2 <- function() {
  print("B")
}

f1()
f2()

is in a file 'myRcode.R'; then

Rscript myRcode.R

will load and execute it, including the two function calls.

Rscript.exe is in the same directory as R.exe -- which one may have to add to the $PATH.

Stanwin

Answer 2

The following "works on my machine" (not Windows though, but it should...):

If your functions.txt looks like:

f1 <- function()
{
  print("A")
}

f2 <- function()
{
  print("B")
}

the command:

Rscript -e "source('functions.txt');f1();f2()" > out.txt

should create the file out.txt containing:

[1] "A"
[1] "B"

Applique

Thanks very much for the answer. A couple of more things 1> where do I find Rscript ? when I tried in my computer I got the message --'Rscript' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. and also how do i load the libraries ? – Lacy

Look in the installation directory of R (probably somewhere in C:\program Files\...). If you want to be able to run this Rscript executable from anywhere on your computer, you should add the directory it is in to your systems PATH variable (see: computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm). – Applique

Answer 3

Here's a command line script, based on code above:

d:\misc2\bin\Rscript.exe    d:\r_code\mycode.r

Using Windows 7, I ran it as a .bat file. Works fine. Thanks for the tip. (of course, these are just my particular subdirectories)

Grosbeak

Answer 4

Add the R bin directory to PATH (windows Enviromwntal variables)

• This PC > Properties > Advanced system settings > Enviromental Variables > select Path > Edit > Add the path to R bin > save

Run command prompt, then you can use either the "R" command to start a new R session in cmd, or "Rscript" to run a script (file)

Snuff