Beginning and Ending a Session

There are several different ways to begin an S session, depending on the version you wish to use. It is assumed that the reader knows how to open a terminal window ($e.g.$ xterm or cmdtool) and will be working from the command line within this window.

First, if you want to run version 3.4, simply type `splus' at the unix prompt. For example, on Pileou you would type

pileou:~ > splus

to begin the session. Similarly, to start S-plus versions 5.0 or 6.0, type `splus5' or `splus6', respectively, at the unix prompt.

As a result of starting S-plus, a directory named .Data (versions 3.4 and 5.0) or MySwork (version 6.0) will be created in your home directory. It is good programming practice to make this directory (see Section 1.4.2 on mkdir) in your current working directory so that your S-plus objects are not all in the same place. As an example, supposed that you are working in a directory named thesis and you want to begin an S-plus 3.4 session. At the prompt you would do the following

pileou:~/thesis > mkdir .Data
pileou:~/thesis > splus

to make the directory and then begin the session.

Starting R is a similar process with similar consequences. To start R, type `R-1.4.1' at the unix prompt. If, upon exiting, you choose to save your work, two files are created: .RData and .RHistory, if they are not already there. Note that these files are placed in your current working directory and you do not need to create them before the session. Typing q() at the R or S prompt will end your session. Note that simply typing R at a unix prompt will start an older version of R (1.2.3). Of course, you can change the invocation of R-1.4.1 using the alias command (see ) in unix to something more intuitive if you wish.