UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi,

I try to use R through the Unix server in my university. When I want to install an R package, I don't have the permission to change the R library. So I installed another version of R under my user's folder on the server, which seems successful. However, when I try to run it, the default R on the server is the one installed by the administrator. How can I change the default R to the one I newly installed, so I have the permission to r/w/x and add the R package I need? Thanks a lot!

Xuemin

Looks like something you can change in your .profile no?
Mind you, not sure I understood: Is it you installed a new version but when you launch its the old one that is being called?
If so its your PATH you need to correct with other specific variables I presume...

Thanks, vbe. I am new to unix. How to change the PATH of the software, like R, in unix? What's the command like? Thanks!

If you have succeeded in your installation (I know nothing about R.. is it good? Here we pay $$$ to SAS...) look where your binaries are (executable files...) usually in a ~/bin directory. go there and type pwd, this will give you the path you are to enter or set in PATH variable.
Now where things get more tricky is where is set the PATH to the old binaries:
First type which <your executable R>, it will give you the path.
Next, find where that path was set:
If global (as default for all users...) it will be certainly in /etc/profile and you cannot change it unless you have sufficent priviledge else in your .profile (in your home directory) in which case you edit it with vi and correct the PATH variable.
if it is global and you cant change it. Then in your .profile you may see something like:
PATH=$PATH:<newpath>:<etc...>
Be sure to set the new before $PATH (the content of /etc/profile) so it is found first.
The other option is to customise your profile for the new R, in a new profile file you call for example profiile_R. Here you set all you need for this enivronment
and you source to it by executing it in this way:

Code:

. ./profile_R