Using S-PLUS interactively

When you use the S-PLUS program it issues a prompt when it expects input commands. The default prompt is ``>'', which is sometimes the same as the shell prompt, and so it may appear that nothing is happening. However, as we shall see, it is easy to change to a different S-PLUS prompt if you wish. In these notes we will assume that the shell prompt is ``$''.

In using S-PLUS the suggested procedure for the first occasion is as follows:

1. Create a separate sub-directory, say work, to hold data files on which you will use S-PLUS for this problem. This will be the working directory whenever you use S-PLUS for this particular problem.

   mkdir work

   cd work

2. Place any data files you wish to use with S-PLUS in work.

3. Create a sub-directory of work called .Data for use by S-PLUS.

   mkdir .Data

4. Start the S-PLUS program with the command

   Splus -e

5. At this point S-PLUS commands may be issued (see later).

6. To quit the S-PLUS program the command is

   q()

The procedure is simpler using S-PLUS after the first time:

Make work the working directory and start the program as before:

cd work

Splus -e

Use the S-PLUS program, terminating with the q() command at the end of the session.