Introduction to R — Working Directories and RStudio Projects

Working Directory

1. What is a directory?

• A pointer, a map, a set of directions, A FILE SYSTEM
• How your computer knows where your files are in the hard drive/SSD, in memory.

2. What is a working directory?

• Where you are working right now.
• Points to the sub directory you are using.
• Prevents you from having to specify the whole path each time.

3. How do you set your working directory?

• Use setwd() in console or at the begining of your R file.
• Has this structure on MAC: /Users/williampoirier/Dropbox/etc
  • option + command + c when on the folder you want in Finder copies the directory to your clipboard.
• Has this structure on PC: C:
  • This sucks because the setwd() function expects this format: C:/Users/williampoirier/Dropbox/etc.

3. A note on organisation

• REALLY IMPORTANT TO CREATE A STRUCTURE!
• t+10 years you is gonna be thankfull.

RStudio Projects

1. Not necessary, but very helpfull when working on multiple things.
2. That’s because it:

• Sets a working directory.
• Remembers which files were openned when last closed.
• Saves your last environement (if you want it to).

3. Let’s create a project!

• File > New Project > Existing Directory > where the workshop folder is