Can Not Install XML Package

Question

I can not install the latest XML package V3.9-4. I mannually install it in RGui by typing:

install.packages("LOCALDIR/XML_3.6-0.tar.gz", repos=NULL, type="source")

But get some error message:

* installing *source* package 'XML' ...
Please define LIB_XML (and LIB_ZLIB, LIB_ICONV)
ERROR: configuration failed for package 'XML'
* removing 'LOCALDIR/R/win-library/2.12/XML'
* restoring previous 'LOCALDIR/R/win-library/2.12/XML'

Anyone any idea?

Thx!

Answer 1

I fixed this for myself today, noting it here for prosperity.

On Unbuntu systems, you can fix this by loading libxml2-dev:

sudo apt-get install libxml2-dev

After I did that, install.packages("XML") ran without a hitch.

Answer 2

You're a windows user (at least your path indicates so) and XML is not available for that OS using the standard binary install. So I see you've tried source, smart but there are pieces that can't compile without rtools and some magic voodoo. So you got two choices:

1. Learn the magic voodoo to make it install correctly
2. Go to the CRAN site and the read me file, which tells you Professor Ripley has put them together for you here. This is good to know because RCurl is there too. For a direct download of the package click HERE.

I can't help you with the voodoo as I opted for the second choice :)