From simon.urbanek at r-project.org  Wed Apr 30 23:02:41 2008
From: simon.urbanek at r-project.org (Simon Urbanek)
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:02:41 -0400
Subject: [Rd] build packages with vignettes in Windows
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Message-ID: <DE668E91-0693-42C4-B1B0-2657018F9A59@r-project.org>


On Apr 30, 2008, at 4:29 PM, Duncan Murdoch wrote:
> On 4/30/2008 4:01 PM, Simon Urbanek wrote:
>> On Apr 30, 2008, at 2:31 PM, Duncan Murdoch wrote:
>>> On 4/30/2008 11:56 AM, Michael wrote:
>>>> On 29 Apr 2008, Duncan Murdoch wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Right, you don't need to set the system path for everything,  
>>>>> but  you do
>>>>> need to set it in CMD (or other shell) before running Rcmd.
>>>> For Win 2K/XP/Vista, the system path can be set (through the GUI   
>>>> interface,
>>>> not sure how to do it with scripts) without restarting, for new CMD
>>>> processes started afterwards.
>>>
>>> Sure, but the installer doesn't know how to do that.  It just  
>>> sets  the path in the registry; it doesn't know how to give  
>>> Explorer a  kick to get it to reload from there.  As far as I know  
>>> there's no  documented way to do that.
>>>
>> FWIW the PATH setting is effective immediately (at least on 2k/  
>> XP ...). Any new shell you start (e.g. using Run..) will have the   
>> updated PATH already.
>
> Does that happen with the Rtools installer?  I didn't know that.  I  
> thought explorer only changes the PATH at startup, or when you edit  
> it from the control panel.
>


Hmm I thought it did, but a subsequent test shows it doesn't.  
Apparently I must have triggered a change in the Control Panel so PATH  
was updated even before reboot.

Anyway, there are free tools with source that show how to send a  
broadcast message to make that change active immediately, e.g.:
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/applications/SetEnv.aspx?fid=230498&df=90&mpp=25&noise=3&sort=Position&view=Quick&select=1531752&fr=48

BTW: By testing this I found out that the Rtools installer is not as  
smart as it could be - when you run it a second time it will duplicate  
the paths.

Cheers,
Simon



>
>> I was always very skeptical as editing PATH in the installer is   
>> concerned (and I have always declined any automated changes), but  
>> I  really love the feature that allows me to edit the whole PATH   
>> interactively in an editor-like window.
>> Also note that the rebooting is optional, you can still safely  
>> decline  it so I see no reason why that should deter anyone.
>> Cheers,
>> Simon
>
>



[Rd] build packages with vignettes in Windows
Simon Urbanek