rpy2 install on windows 7

Question

I'm trying to install rpy2 on my computer, but I wasn't able to do it.

I downloaded the source package and I tryed to install Rpy2 (rpy2-2.3.2) using the command python setup.py install. This is the result:

running install
running build
running build_py
running build_ext
"C:\PROGRA~1\R\R-215~1.2\bin\R" CMD config --ldflags
"C:\PROGRA~1\R\R-215~1.2\bin\R" CMD config --cppflags
"C:\PROGRA~1\R\R-215~1.2\bin\R" CMD config LAPACK_LIBS

returned an empty string.

"C:\PROGRA~1\R\R-215~1.2\bin\R" CMD config BLAS_LIBS

returned an empty string.

Configuration for R as a library:
    include_dirs: ('C:/PROGRA~1/R/R-215~1.2/include/i386', 'C:/PROGRA~1/R/R-215~1.2/include')
    libraries: ('R',)
    library_dirs: ('C:/PROGRA~1/R/R-215~1.2/bin/i386',)
    extra_link_args: ()
   # OSX-specific (included in extra_link_args)
    framework_dirs: ()
    framework: ()
building 'rpy2.rinterface._rinterface' extension
creating build\temp.win32-2.7
creating build\temp.win32-2.7\Release
creating build\temp.win32-2.7\Release\rpy
creating build\temp.win32-2.7\Release\rpy\rinterface
C:\Rtools\gcc-4.6.3\bin\gcc.exe -mcygwin -mdll -O -Wall -DWin32=1 -I.\rpy\rinterface -IC:\Python27\include -IC:\Python27\PC -IC:/PROGRA~1/R/R-215~1.2/include/i386 -IC:/PROGRA~1/R/R-215~1.2/include -c .\rpy\rinterface\_interface.c -o build\temp.win32-2.7\Release\.\rpy\rinterface\_rinterface.o
cc1.exe: error: unrecognized command line option '-mcygwin'
error: command 'gcc' failed with exit status 1

I also tried with build install and easy_install without success. I have R 2.15.2, Python 2.7.2 and Windows 7 (32 bit).

What am I doing wrong?

PS.if I paste that command, the result is:

cygwin warning:

MS-DOS style path detected C:\PROGRA~1\R\R-215~1.2\bin\config.sh
Preferred POSIX equivalent is: /cygdrive/c/PROGRA~1/R/R-215~1.2/bin/config.sh
CYGWIN environment variable option "nodosfilewarning" turns off this warning.
Consult the user's guide for more details about POSIX paths:
    http://cygwin.com/cygwin-ug-net/using.html#using-pathnames

-LC:/PROGRA~1/R/R-215~1.2/bin/i386 -lR

Answer 1

OK. From previous experience I've found there are not many instructions on how to install rpy2 on Windows. I get that it's not officially supported but it's really not that hard. In a few steps I'll show what I did and maybe others can follow.

These instructions will most likely only work for Python 2.7+ and R 3.2+ but will probably work for R 3.0+. I am putting the paths that I've used on my system. Make sure to modify the paths accordingly:

First, make sure any previous rpy2 installations are UNINSTALLED before trying these steps (and obviously have R 3.2+ before installing).

1. Download the .whl file for r2py from here
2. Install the .whl file using pip install [put .whl filename here] (in the command line) from the directory where the file was downloaded
3. Append a path similar to C:\Program Files\R\R-3.2.0\bin to your PATH environment variable
4. Create a R_HOME system variable with a value similar to: C:\Program Files\R\R-3.2.0
5. Create a R_USER system variable with your user name
6. Create a R_LIBS_USER system variable with a path to the folder where external R packages are/will be installed.

That's it. Open up a command prompt and enter the command R. This should start an R session and display version information.

Now open up python and run this line to see if things worked out or not:

import rpy2.robjects as robjects 

Hopefully this helps.