R

The working directory is just a file path on your computer that sets the default location for any files you read into R or save out of R. In other words, a working directory is like a home base for your specific analysis project. If you ask R to import a dataset from a text file, save a dataframe as a text file, or import a high-quality figure, it will assume that the file is inside your working directory! You need to set the working directory every time you start a new R session to ensure R knows where to find and save files.

You can only have one working directory active at any given time. The active working directory is called your current working directory.

To see your current working directory, use getwd():

There are two ways to set your working directory if you are not using R projects.

Option 1: Manually Setting the Working Directory

As you can see, when I run this code, it tells me that my working directory is in a folder called project under cloud. This means that when I try to read new files into R, or write files out of R, it will assume that I want to put them in this folder.

If you want to change your working directory, use the setwd() function. For example, if I wanted to change my working directory to an existing folder called new_folder, I’d run the following code:

By setting your working directory, you ensure that R knows where to find your data and where to save your outputs, making your workflow more organized and efficient. You can create separate folders for images, data, scripts, and tables.

Option 2: Point-and-Click Approach in RStudio

There is also point-and-click approach to setting your working directory.

1. Go to the 'Session' menu.
2. Select 'Set Working Directory'.
3. Choose 'Choose Directory...' and navigate to your desired folder.

By setting your working directory, you ensure that R knows where to find your data and where to save your outputs, making your workflow more organized and efficient.

RStudio Projects provide a convenient way to manage and organize your data analysis work. Instead of setting your working directory every time, you can work with projects and do not have to worry about working directory. A project creates an isolated workspace, ensuring that all files, data, and settings are kept together. This helps maintain a clear and organized workflow, especially for complex or long-term projects.

Creating a Project:

To create a new project in RStudio, you can either manually use code or the point-and-click approach:

Point-and-Click Approach in RStudio:

1. Click on the File menu.
2. Select New Project....
3. Choose New Directory for a new project or Existing Directory to use an existing folder.
4. Follow the prompts to set up your project.

Example: Manually Creating a Project (via point-and-click):

1. Click on File -> New Project....
2. Select New Directory -> New Project. 
3. Name your project and select a directory (i.e., folder you are working).
4. Click Create Project.

By using RStudio Projects, you ensure a more organized, efficient, and reproducible data analysis workflow. Your folder management might look something like this with projects.

Projects help you keep everything related to a specific analysis in one place, making it easier to manage your work and collaborate with others.