Downloading R

Getting R:

Select your operating system (e.g., Windows, MacOS)

For Windows

Click “base”

Download and execute the setup program “R 2.11.1” (the latest version) and follow the instructions.

You should be able to accept all the default settings in the setup program OR I recommend selecting “customized startup” when it asks and then just changing the MDI option to SDI (and accepting all other defaults)

By default, the software will be placed in C:\ProgramFiles\R\R-2.10.1

For MacOS

Click on the link for R-2.11.1.pkg

Double click on the resulting R icon to install the program.

Getting R Commander:

R Commander is the most well known add-on GUI for R that adds menu-driven functionality. R Commander is available for Windows, Linux/Unix, and MacOS. Installation instructions are given at http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/jfox/Misc/Rcmdr/installation-notes.html, but first just try to install it as shown below.

For Windows

Initially, you will need to select Packages > Install Packages. You will need to select the CRAN site (a closer site means faster downloading). I usually pick USA CA(1). Then select "Rcmdr" from the packages list. Once it is installed, you can type library(Rcmdr) to launch the R Commander. I think you will be ok with the “missing packages.” Click OK when it asks about loading packages from the CRAN. Lots of stuff will load but with a fast internet connection, it shouldn't take too long. When it's done, a new R Commander window will appear.

In the future, you should be able to select Packages > Load Packages. Then from the Packages list, select R Commander (Rcmdr). Or type library(Rcmder).

You can also make launching R Commander when you start R the default (see the above installation notes link). See also the notes about SDI vs. MDI. R commander works a bit better with SDI (otherwise you have to select the active window more specifically).

For MacOS

Once you download R, from the menu bar at the very top, select Packages & Data and then Packages Installer (press Get List, and set up the CRAN mirror) and then select Rcmdr, check “install dependences,” and press Install Selected. Then in the R Console type > library(Rcmdr) each time to launch the commander. If you get error messages when you try to load the library, then go to this page http://cran.r-project.org/bin/macosx/tools/ and on the left click on the tcltk-8.5.5-x11.dmg link to download and follow instructions (i.e., keep pressing Continue) to install Tcl/Tk 8.5.5 forX11. Then go back and try to load the Rcmdr library.