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Data Ingestion & Launchers

Source: vignettes/data-ingestion-launchers.Rmd
data-ingestion-launchers.Rmd

dtsmartr is accessible to non-programmers, clinical coordinators, and business analysts who want to browse datasets without writing R scripts. The package includes a zero-code Data Ingestion Wizard and multiple one-click system launchers.

1. Zero-Code Data Ingestion Wizard

Boot the ingestion uploader by calling dtsmartr_launch() with no arguments:

  • Drag-and-Drop File Uploader: Powered by the datamods package. Upload local files of any supported format:
    • CSV: Text spreadsheet datasets.
    • Excel (.xlsx): Multiple tabs support.
    • SAS (.sas7bdat): Clinical study datasets.
    • RDS: Native compressed R data files.
  • View Panel: Inspect and verify raw rows before feeding data into the main React explorer grid.
  • Update Panel: Custom-convert column classes (e.g. converting a character variable to factor, or numeric to character) or rename columns dynamically before loading the grid.

2. One-Click Launchers (No R Console Required)

Method A: RStudio GUI Add-in

Once dtsmartr is installed, a launcher registers in RStudio: 1. Click the Addins menu in RStudio’s top toolbar. 2. Select dtsmartr Data Explorer Wizard. 3. The wizard opens automatically in your default external web browser.

Method B: Terminal Command One-Liner

Start the uploader server directly from your system Terminal (macOS/Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows):

Rscript -e "dtsmartr::dtsmartr_launch()"

Method C: Desktop Shortcut Icons

Create a double-clickable Desktop launcher to open the uploader wizard like a native desktop app:

  • Windows (dtsmartr_explorer.bat): Create a text file on your Desktop named dtsmartr_explorer.bat containing:

    @echo off
"C:\Program Files\R\R-4.4.3\bin\x64\Rscript.exe" -e "dtsmartr::dtsmartr_launch()"

    (Modify the path to point to your local Rscript.exe executable).

  • macOS / Linux (dtsmartr_explorer.sh): Create a shell file on your Desktop named dtsmartr_explorer.sh:

    #!/bin/bash
Rscript -e "dtsmartr::dtsmartr_launch()"

    Make it executable in the Terminal:

    chmod +x ~/Desktop/dtsmartr_explorer.sh