What is R?

R is a language and environment for statistical computing and graphics. It compiles and runs on a wide variety of UNIX platforms and similar systems (including FreeBSD and Linux), Windows, and MacOS. R is available as Free Software under the terms of the Free Software Foundation's GNU General Public License in source code form and as binaries.

For additional information visit the R Homepage and read What is R? (see Menu on left) and the FAQs under Documentation. For on line documentation go to The R Manuals and see Item 1 for An Introduction to R---click on [browse HTML]. See the NOTE below


How to Obtain R for Windows

If you are Using a Mac, Linux, or Unix go to the R web site for instructions

If you DO NOT have Administrator permission on your PC you will need assistance from a Systems Administrator.
If this is the case, ask the Systems Administrator to complete the following steps.
After R has been installed ask the Systems Adminstrator to give you write privileges in the folder where R has been installed.

The references to the R version "R-2.13.2" should be the current version that is available at the R web site, i.e. "R-v.v.v". R will be installed in (the local equivalent of) C:\Program Files\R\ (THE DEFAULT folder) unless another folder is specified.

  1. To obtain Current Windows Version of R visit The Comprehensive R Archive Network. Click on [Mirrors] under CRAN on menu on the left, and choose a location close to you.

  2. Select [Download for Windows] and then select [base]

  3. Select [Download R 2.13.1 for Windows] and save it to your Desktop, or other location. (this is a 39MB file)

  4. Double Click on R-2.13.2-win.exe., and select all the default options. This will install R in standard location ( C:\Program Files\R\R-2.13.2).

  5. An R-Icon (short cut) should appear on your desktop after installation. If not, create a short cut to
    C:\Program Files\R\R-2.13.2\bin\Rgui.exe.
NOTE: On the R home page left menu select the link to [Books] at least 110 are listed. I recomend:

Brian Everitt and Torsten Hothorn. A Handbook of Statistical Analyses Using R. Second Edition . Chapman & Hall/CRC, Boca Raton, FL, 2010. ISBN 1-584-88539-4 ( see package HSAUR2 at CRAN)

William N. Venables and Brian D. Ripley. Modern Applied Statistics with S. Fourth Edition. Springer, New York, 2002. ISBN 0-387-95457-0. Package MASS at C:\Program Files\R\R-2.13.2\library\MASS\scripts has scripit files for all code in the book by chapter.

Last Revised 31 Aug 2011 by E.L. Frome
Last Revised 29 Nov 2011 by E.L. Frome