Chapter 2 Interacting With RStudio

2.1 updates

• R.version.string checks for r version

2.2 working directory

• setwd("~/WORKING_DIRECTORY_PATH") to load and save documents

2.3 packages

• install.packages("PACKAGE") installs new package (required once)
• library(LIBRARY_NAME) attaches (opens) a package (required every time a session opened)
• search() lists packages currently attached
• .libPaths lists where packages are saved in computer

2.4 import

2.4.1 csv

• DF <- read.csv("FILENAME.csv", header = TRUE) reads the .csv file within the working directory
• for files with multiple headers rows (often the case with .csv files from quatrics) use:
  • DF <- read.csv("FILENAME", header = TRUE)[-1:-2,] to import the .csv without 2nd and 3rd rows
  • write.csv(DF, "NEW_FILENAME.csv") # writes a new csv to write a new .csv on the working directory
  • DF <- read.csv("NEW_FILENAME.csv", header = TRUE) to import the new .csv
  • note that the file actions take place within the working directory, follows the code chunk

DF <- read.csv("FILENAME", header = TRUE)[-1:-2,] # cleans the 2nd and 3rd 
write.csv(DF, "FILENAME.csv") # writes a new csv
DF <- read.csv("FILENAME.csv", header = TRUE) # writes a new DF

2.4.2 excel

• DF <- read.xlsx2("FILENAME.xlsx", 1) requires the xlxs package, reads the .xls file within the working directory

2.4.3 SPSS

DF <- spss.get("FILENAME.sav", use.value.labels=TRUE) requires the Hmisc package, reads the .sav file within the working directory

2.5 objects in the environment

• ls() to list all objects
  
• rm(OBJECT) to remove an object (for several objects separete each object name by a coma)