How to run an R script file from the command line

Question

I know there are a lot of questions regarding this issue but I've tried everything and I think I just don't understand how the command line works in windows. I have a file saved in a folder on my desktop, let's say:

C:\Users\abika_000\Desktop\R models\myfile.R

Here is the directory to my R/bin or Rscript/bin:

C:\Program Files\R\R-3.1.0\bin

I want to run this code using the cmd prompt. How would I go about doing this?

I've tried this solution from the question below but I just keep getting errors no matter what I do:

Run R script from command line

What I entered:

> R CMD BATCH C:\Users\abika_000\Desktop\R models\myfile.R
> Rscript C:\Users\abika_000\Desktop\R models\myfile.R

The errors I get are:

'R' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file
'Rscript' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file

EDIT::

Credit to splendour and Phil. I wound up fixing it by entering:

> "C:\Program Files\R\R-3.1.0\bin\"R CMD BATCH "C:\Users\abika_000\Desktop\R models\myfile.R"

I apologize for the poor question. I just wasn't sure how to use the cmd prompt /directories in trying to use R CMD BATCH or Rscript

Answer 1

The executables for R have not been added to your environmental variable PATH. The error you are receiving is CMD complaining that it cannot recognize R as an executable. Both R and Rscript exists under Windows.

From the CMD, write

echo %PATH%

Did you see the path where R is install there? Probably not.

Where is R installed? I'm guessing something like C:\Program Files (x64)\R\R-3.1.2

Follow this link for adding a path to PATH: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm

The path you want to add is not the location where R is installed, but a subdir. Either add C:\Program Files (x64)\R\R-3.1.2\bin or C:\Program Files (x64)\R\R-3.1.2\bin\x64.

Restart a command prompt, and try to start R from the command line (just type R).

Answer 2

I think step 1, if you haven't already done it, is to use a UNIX-y shell emulator, such as Cygwin. Then, assuming it's available on Windows (as it is on Linux/OSX), you can use the wrapper program Rscript.

Or, if you have a UNIX-y shell emulator, you can always pipe input straight into R, e.g.:

R --no-save --no-restore < your_script.R