Programming Graphical User Interfaces in R

"Preface About this book Two common types of user interfaces in statistical computing are the command line interface (CLI) and the graphical user interface (GUI). The usual CLI consists of a textual console in which the user types a sequence of commands at a prompt, and the output of the commands is printed to the console as text. The R console is an example of a CLI. A GUI is the primary means of interacting with desktop environments, such as Windows and Mac OS X, and statistical software, such as JMP. GUIs are contained within windows, and resources, such as documents, are represented by graphical icons. User controls are packed into hierarchical drop-down menus, buttons, sliders, etc. The user manipulates the windows, icons, and menus with a pointer device, such as a mouse. The R language, like its predecessor S, is designed for interactive use through a command line interface (CLI), and the CLI remains the primary interface to R. However, the graphical user interface (GUI) has emerged as an effectivealternative, depending on the specific task and the target audience. With respect to GUIs, we see R users falling into three main target audiences: those who are familiar with programming R, those who are still learning how to program, and those who haveno interest in programming. On some platforms, such as Windows and Mac OS X, R has graphical front-ends that provide a CLI through a text console control. Similar examples include the multi-platform RStudioTM IDE, the Java-based JGR and the RKWard GUI for the Linux KDE desktop. Although these interfaces are GUIs, they are still very much in essence CLIs, in that the primary mode of interacting with R is the same. Thus, these GUIs appeal mostly to those who are comfortable with R programming"--

Auteur

Michael Lawrence, John Verzani

Texte du rabat

Focusing on graphic user interfaces (GUIs) within the R language, this book shows programmers and users how to develop their own GUIs, enabling them to interface with other languages. The text opens the possibilities of R 's huge and growing set of statistical methods. The authors cover four different packages for writing GUIs: gWidgets, RGtk2, Qt, and Tcl Tk. Supported by a package in CRAN that contains all of the code along with additional examples, the text is filled with numerous examples ranging from the very simple to detailed illustrations of how to code actual interfaces.

Résumé

Programming Graphical User Interfaces with R introduces each of the major R packages for GUI programming: RGtk2, qtbase, Tcl/Tk, and gWidgets. With examples woven through the text as well as stand-alone demonstrations of simple yet reasonably complete applications, the book features topics especially relevant to statisticians who aim to provide a practical interface to functionality implemented in R. The book offers:

• A how-to guide for developing GUIs within R
• The fundamentals for users with limited knowledge of programming within R and other languages
• GUI design for specific functions or as learning tools The accompanying package, ProgGUIinR, includes the complete code for all examples as well as functions for browsing the examples from the respective chapters. Accessible to seasoned, novice, and occasional R users, this book shows that for many purposes, adding a graphical interface to one's work is not terribly sophisticated or time consuming.

Contenu

The Fundamentals of Graphical User Interfaces. The gWidgets Package: gWidgets: Overview. gWidgets: Container Widgets. gWidgets: Control Widgets. gWidgets: R-specific Widgets. The RGtkPackage: RGtk2: Overview. RGtk2: Windows, Containers, and Dialogs. RGtk2: Basic Components. RGtk2: Widgets Using Data Models. RGtk2: Application Windows. Extending GObject Classes. The qtbase Package: Qt: Overview. Qt: Layout Managers and Containers. Qt: Widgets. Qt: Widgets Using Data Models. Qt: Application Windows. The tcltk Package: Tcl/Tk: Overview. Tcl/Tk: Layout and Containers. Tcl/Tk: Dialogs and Widgets. Tcl/Tk: Text, Tree, and Canvas Widgets. Concept index. Class and method index.