adding RMySQL package to R fails (on Windows)?

Question

I can't figure out why my RMySQL package won't install - here's what I get:

> install.packages('RMySQL',type='source')
trying URL 'http://cran.mirrors.hoobly.com/src/contrib/RMySQL_0.7-5.tar.gz'
Content type 'application/x-gzip' length 160769 bytes (157 Kb)
opened URL
downloaded 157 Kb

* installing *source* package 'RMySQL' ...
ERROR: configuration failed for package 'RMySQL'
* removing 'C:/PROGRA~1/R/R-212~1.0/library/RMySQL'

The downloaded packages are in '(foo)'

Warning message:
In install.packages("RMySQL", type = "source") : installation of package 'RMySQL' had    non-zero exit status

I don't think it's a problem with the MySQL install, as the right values seem to be in the registry:

> Sys.getenv('MYSQL_HOME')
                 MYSQL_HOME "C:/PROGRA~1/MySQL/MYSQLS~1.1/" 
> readRegistry("SOFTWARE\\MySQL AB", hive="HLM", maxdepth=2)
$`MySQL Server 5.1`
$`MySQL Server 5.1`$DataLocation
[1] "C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Application Data\\MySQL\\MySQL Server 5.1\\"

$`MySQL Server 5.1`$FoundExistingDataDir 
[1] "0"

$`MySQL Server 5.1`$Location 
[1] "C:\\Program Files\\MySQL\\MySQL Server 5.1\\"

$`MySQL Server 5.1`$Version
[1] "5.1.54"

Puzzled. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

I was working for last 2 days on Installation of R with RMySQL package, finally got the solution for that, here are the steps to install RMySQL package:-

1. DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE FROM THE FOLLOWING LINKS: *a. R2.13.2: Download R from http://cran.stat.sfu.ca/index.html

     b. RTools 214:  Download RTools from http://cran.cict.fr
   
     c. RMySQL 0.8-0.tar.gz: Download RMySQL from 
     http://biostat.mc.vanderbilt.edu/wiki/main/RMySQL/RMySQL_0.8-0.tar.gz
   
     d. MySQL Server 5.0: download it from http://dev.mysql.com
   
     e. RSTUDIO (optional): download it from http://rstudio.org*
   

2. SET THE FOLLOWING ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

    * a. MYSQL_HOME : <drive>/path to MySQL installation folder
         e.g. MYSQL_HOME= C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.5\ 
   
     b. R_HOME: <drive>/path to R installation
        e.g. R_HOME=C:\Program Files\R\R-2.13.2\
   
     c. PATH: Modify path to accommodate the above variables. *
   

   Be sure that the following paths areincluded in your Windows PATH variable: \Rtools\2.14\bin \Rtools\2.14\MinGW\bin \Rtools\2.14\MinGW64\bin

3. CREATE FOLDER AND COPY FILES

   a. OPT: Create a folder OPT under C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.5\lib and copy
   MYSQLLIB.LIB the above path. Also copy libmysql.dll to \\R\R-2.14.0\bin\ (64 bit) Or \\R\R-2.14.0\bin\i386\ (32 bit) and to C:\Windows\System32.

b. Renviron.site: create or edit a file \\R\R-2.14.0\etc\Renviron.site and add a line: MYSQL_HOME =”C:/Program Files/MySQL/MySQL Server 5.5/” NB: USE FORWARD SLASH AND DOUBLE QUOTES HERE

c. libMySQL.dll: Copy this file to C:\Program Files\R\R-2.13.2\bin\i386 as well as C:\Program Files\R\R-2.13.2\bin

1. RUN COMMANDS

   a. Install.Packages: Run R GUI by clicking on the R icon on desktop or from Start menu. Type INSTALL.PACKAGES(“RMySQL”,type=”Sources”). This will download the required software from repositories.

b. Command Prompt: Copy the downloaded zip file (in step 4.a.) and paste it under R installation folder. Go to start menu and open Command Prompt. Go to the R installation folder and type R CMD INSTALL RMySQL_0.8-0.tar.gz

  *COMMANDS:
  >library(RMySQL)
   >drv = dbDriver("MySQL")
   >con = dbConnect(drv,host="localhost",dbname="test",user="root",pass="root")
   >album = dbGetQuery(con,statement="select * from t_master")
   >album*

Answer 2

The basic process is described here, but there are several hints, So I will describe the whole solution (please change the R version and paths if needed):

1. Install latest RTools from here
2. install MySQL or header and library files of mysql
3. create or edit file C:\Program Files\R\R-2.12.1\etc\Renviron.site and add line like MYSQL_HOME=C:/mysql (path to your mysql files)
4. copy libmysql.lib from mysql/lib to mysql/lib/opt to meet dependencies.
5. copy libmysql.dll to C:\Program Files\R\R-2.12.1\bin or to windows/system32 directory.
6. run install.packages('RMySQL',type='source') and wait while compilation will end.

This worked for me on Windows 7 64 bit, so there should be no problems with 32 bit versions

Initialy posted here (similar question).

Answer 3

You however there is one additional requirement at present (with the MySQL server version 5.5 & R2.12.1) follow thehttp://biostat.mc.vanderbilt.edu/wiki/Main/RMySQL instructions at present as the locations of the libmySQL.dll differs to what is expected in the package.

i.e. for the 64bit compiling. it expects the libmySQL.dll to be in "${MYSQL_HOME}"/bin/libmySQL.dll so simply copy the dll over to the /bin dir and it will now compile.

for the 32bit compilling. the libmySQL.lib is expected in "${MYSQL_HOME}"/lib/opt/libmysql.lib again moving this should solve the problem.

Alternatively, if you don't want to or can't move these files. Then you can edit the source code files: Makevars.win Makevars.win32 Makevars.win64 appropriately pointing to /lib/libmysql.dll /lib/libmysql.lib

Answer 4

18 months later, new laptop, same problem. Returning to the scene of the crime - sorry January 2011 self; we're in the future, and this installation still isn't any fun.

Lessons learned:

-Updated RTools are essential. Get them.

-Are you seeing an error along the lines of .onLoad failed in loadNamespace() for 'RMySQL', details? This seems to mean that there's a problem with your system environment variables.

In R, run

Sys.getenv('MYSQL_HOME')

If it spits back a path like

 [1] "C:\\Program Files\\MySQL\\MySQL Server 5.6"

you're good. But if it gives you empty string, you need to set this.

These are all Windows 7 directions, but the process is pretty similar in XP, if memory serves.

1) Bring up System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables.

2) In the lower 'System Variables' pane, click 'New'.

3) Variable name is MYSQL_HOME and value is whatever the path is to your MySQL installation - mine was C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.6

Newer versions of MySQL don't seem to create an environment variable on install - that and the lack of binaries for RMySQL explain why this questions has garnered 8,000 hits.

-Still stuck? Here are two additional in-depth writeups: 1, 2

Answer 5

I came across this step-by-step guide to install RMySQL under Windows7 64bit.

http://www.ahschulz.de/2013/07/23/installing-rmysql-under-windows/

The software I used are:

1. Windows 8 OS
2. R3.0.2 - 64bit
3. Rtools 3.1
4. MySQL Server Community Edition 5.6 - 64bit

Following the above guide (with screenshots provided), my installation and loading of the RMySQL package works.

Many thanks to Arne Hendrik Schulz!