Using COM in R language

Question

I am trying to get the rcom package for R working. It seems to have installed ok:

> install.packages("rcom");
--- Please select a CRAN mirror for use in this session ---
trying URL 'http://mira.sunsite.utk.edu/CRAN/bin/windows/contrib/2.9/rcom_2.2-1.zip'
Content type 'application/zip' length 204632 bytes (199 Kb)
opened URL
downloaded 199 Kb

package 'rcom' successfully unpacked and MD5 sums checked

The downloaded packages are in
        C:\Users\solomon\AppData\Local\Temp\Rtmpzb5oi4\downloaded_packages
updating HTML package descriptions

Then I try to run something:

>comCreateObject("Excel.Application");
Error: could not find function "comCreateObject"

What am I missing, the manual tells me that comCreateObject is the appropriate command. However, the manual's version is somewhat old. Anyone else have any insights?

Answer 1

I can see a couple of potential problems here - rcom has a weird installation.

1. Did you load the package - that is, run library(rcom) after installing it? I know, I know - but I forget that step all the time, and it would definitely give you the "could not find function" error.

2. Did you run the installstatconnDCOM() command? I almost didn't notice it telling me to do this.