3.10 Edit an R markdown file

In a previous tutorial you learned how to create an R Markdown file, but generally you won’t need to do this in this course, because you’ll be provided starter documents to work with.

I have created an R Markdown file that you can download and use for starting your tutorial work.

To do this, type the following code into your command console in RStudio (the bottom left panel):

download.file("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ubco-biology/BIOL202/main/more/Example_tutorial_markdown.Rmd", "BIOL202_tutorial_markdown.Rmd")

This download.file command takes a URL address for a file stored online, and then tells R where to save it, and what name to use.

Here we will save the RMD file in your “working directory”, which is the “BIOL202_tutorials” directory. It should show up in the “files” pane in the bottom right RStudio panel. Click on the “BIOL202_tutorial_markdown.Rmd file to open it.

This is the R Markdown file that you’ll edit/add to throughout the term. It has some starting instructions / example text already, and you’re welcome to delete / change that.

• Change the “author” information at the top of the document (in the header) to your name.
• Save your file by clicking the save icon in the top left, and be sure to give it an appropriate name as per previous file-naming instructions

For the basics on formatting in R Markdown, consult the R Markdown reference guide