Change R default library path using .libPaths in Rprofile.site fails to work

How to Change R Default Library Path: A Simple Fix

📢 Calling all R users! 📢 Have you ever encountered the frustrating issue of not being able to change the default library path in R using the .libPaths() command in the Rprofile.site file? 😫 I feel your pain! But fear not, because I've got a simple solution for you! 💪💡

The Problem: "lib = "C:/Program Files/R/R-2.15.2/library" is not writable"

So, you're running R on Windows, but not as an administrator. When you try to install a package using the install.packages() command, you get the following error message:

> install.packages("zoo")
Installing package(s) into 'C:/Program Files/R/R-2.15.2/library'
(as 'lib' is unspecified)
Warning in install.packages :
  'lib = "C:/Program Files/R/R-2.15.2/library"' is not writable

Not being able to install packages without specifying the library location every time is a hassle, right? 🤦‍♂️ But don't worry, there's a way around this!

The Solution: Specifying the Library Location

To install and load packages without having to type the library location each time, you can use the lib and lib.loc parameters in the install.packages() and library() functions, respectively. Here's how you can do it:

1. When installing a package, specify the library location using the lib parameter:

   install.packages("zoo", lib="C:/software/Rpackages")

2. When loading a package, specify the library location using the lib.loc parameter:

   library("zoo", lib.loc="C:/software/Rpackages")

This method works perfectly fine, but what if you want to add the library path permanently so that you don't have to type it in every time you use R? That's where the .libPaths() command in the Rprofile.site file comes into play!

The Issue: .libPaths() Not Working as Expected

You may have stumbled upon recommendations to edit the Rprofile.site file and add the line .libPaths("C:/software/Rpackages") to permanently change the default library path in R. However, after doing this and starting RStudio, you notice that the added line doesn't seem to have any effect. 🤔

Here's what you see when you run .libPaths() after modifying the Rprofile.site file:

> .libPaths()
[1] "C:/Program Files/R/R-2.15.2/library" "C:/Program Files/RStudio/R/library"

Oh no! The desired library path is missing! 😱 But don't worry, there's a quick fix for this issue!

The Fix: Ensuring Proper Execution of .libPaths() in Rprofile.site

If you're experiencing the problem where the .libPaths() command in the Rprofile.site file doesn't seem to have any effect, even though it works when you manually run it in RStudio, here's what you need to do:

1. Close RStudio completely to ensure a fresh start.

2. Open your text editor and navigate to the Rprofile.site file. Its location may vary depending on your system setup, but you can usually find it in the etc directory of your R installation (e.g., C:/Program Files/R/R-4.1.0/etc/Rprofile.site).

3. Open the Rprofile.site file in your text editor and add the following lines at the end:

   if (interactive()) { .libPaths("C:/software/Rpackages") }

4. Save the Rprofile.site file.

5. Now, when you open RStudio and run .libPaths(), you should see your desired library path included:

   > .libPaths() [1] "C:/software/Rpackages" "C:/Program Files/R/R-2.15.2/library"

Voilà! The library path is now set correctly, and you can install and load packages without the need to specify the library location every time. 🎉

Share Your Experience!

I hope this guide helped you solve the issue with changing the R default library path using .libPaths() in the Rprofile.site file. 🙌 Now, go ahead and give it a try! If you encounter any difficulties or have additional tips, feel free to share your experience in the comments section below. Let's help each other make the most of R! 👇💬

Remember, never stop exploring and learning! Happy coding with R! 🚀✨