Is there a way for a Spotfire data function to send its R script directly to an open-source R instance installed on the same machine as the Spotfire desktop client?

All supported operating systems

No, the Spotfire data function framework does not have a way to send a data function's R script directly to an open-source R instance installed on the local machine that hosts the Spotfire desktop client.


The data function's R script (with a Type of "R script - Open Source R") can be sent to either of the following:

(a) an R Service (Spotfire Service for R) instance, while logged into Spotfire Server

or 

(b) a TIBCO Spotfire Statistics Services (TSSS) instance that has been configured to use open-source R as its statistical engine, via URL.


Note:  The installable Spotfire Statistics Services (TSSS) server product has been discontinued as of Spotfire 14.0.0, and TSSS 12.3.1 was its final release. On TIBCO's edelivery site, the "Spotfire Statistics Services" download area now enables download of the TERR Service (Spotfire Enterprise Runtime for R - Server Edition), the Python Service (Spotfire Service for Python), and the R Service (Spotfire Service for R). The installation media for these three services are Spotfire distributions (*.sdn files) that are deployed using Spotfire Server's browser-based administration console.

Note:  Spotfire Analyst can only send data functions' open-source R scripts to the R Service (Spotfire Service for R) for processing while it is logged into a Spotfire Server environment that has an R Service up and running. The standalone Spotfire Desktop client (which never logs into Spotfire Server) does not have a direct way to process a data function's open-source R script.

Note: Many scripts developed using open-source R can also be run in Spotfire Enterprise Runtime for R (TERR). Spotfire data functions can send such scripts (with a Type of "R script - Spotfire Enterprise Runtime for R") to a Spotfire desktop client's own built-in local TERR engine for processing.


If you would like to see implementation of a mechanism for Spotfire data functions to send R scripts directly to a locally installed open-source R instance, please vote for the following idea on the Ideas Portal:
 

https://ideas.spotfire.com/ideas/TS-I-9438
(Execute open source R functions locally)

Product Management owns the Ideas Portal, and pays close attention to each idea and the votes and comments it receives.

Note:  If such a mechanism were to be implemented, the Spotfire user would need to download R from the open-source R community's CRAN website, then follow appropriate instructions to enable its use with the Spotfire desktop client. Such a mechanism is not available now.

The Spotfire data function framework does not have a way to send a data function's R script directly to an open-source R instance installed on the same machine as the Spotfire desktop client. This article outlines the options available for data functions' open-source R scripts.