Getting Started with S+SpatialStats

Abstract

If you have used S-Plus before, getting started with S+SpatialStats is easy; just start S-Plus, attach the S+SpatialStats module, and begin learning how to use the S+SpatialStats functions—a set of S-Plus functions for visualizing and analyzing spatial data. This chapter describes the following tasks particular to running the S+SpatialStats module:

• Starting and quitting S+SpatialStats including setting up your environment so that S+SpatialStats is started whenever you start S-Plus.

• Getting help for S+SpatialStats in the Windows environment. (In the UNIX environment, getting help for S+SpatialStats functions is no different from getting help for other functions in S-Plus.)

• Using Trellis graphics in S+SpatialStats for the visualization of spatial data.

• Importing your own spatial data into S-Plus for use with S+SpatialStats.

• Accessing sample data sets included with S+SpatialStats.

If you have not used S-Plus before, read A Gentle Introduction to S-Plus or A Crash Course in S-Plus to learn the basics of S-Plus before proceeding with this book. Although both manuals are aimed at new users, A Gentle Introduction to S-Plus is specifically for the user who is new to either computing in general or data analysis in particular, while A Crash Course in S-Plus is specifically for users with experience analyzing data using other software packages. This book assumes only a working knowledge of S-Plus such as can be gained from reading A Gentle Introduction to S-Plus.

Some of the procedures in this chapter vary depending on whether you run S+SpatialStats under Windows or under UNIX. Where commands or procedures vary between the two operating systems, this chapter describes both.

Note: If you are looking for instructions on installing S+SpatialStats see appendix A.