[ESS] ess, Xemacs, and Rterm crash

[Michael Wolosin]

All -

I've been using Xemacs and ESS to run R for a while (2 yrs) in various 
version combinations, after trying to update to R 2.2.1, I couldn't get R 
to run from within e-macs.  After wiping the slate clean to start over, I 
re-installed everything in the following order:
1) R version 2.2.1
2) Xemacs 21.4.19
3) ess 5.2.11, by unzipping files and directory structure into the 
site-packages folder
4) John Fox's init.el into the appropriate directory, with changes as necessary

When I start up Xemacs (from a desktop shortcut pointing to "C:\Program 
Files\XEmacs\XEmacs-21.4.19\i586-pc-win32\xemacs.exe"), it goes through the 
normal steps, splitting up the window, collecting some garbage, loading 
stuff, telling me to type C-h m for help on ess, etc.

Then I get a Windows popup telling me there has been a Program Error: 
"Rterm.exe has generated errors and will be closed by Windows.  You will 
need to restart the program.  An error log is being created."

In Xemacs, I get the message "Error in init file.  Process R not running" 
in the mini-buffer, and the following buffers:
*Warnings* with:
"(1) (initialization/error) An error has occurred while loading 
c:\Documents and Settings\msw10\.xemacs\init.el:
Process R is not running.
To ensure normal operation, you should investigate the cause of the error
in your initialization file and remove it.  Use the `-debug-init' option
to XEmacs to view a complete error backtrace."

*R* with:
"R : Copyright 2005, The R Foundation for Statistical Computing
Version 2.2.1  (2005-12-20 r36812)
ISBN 3-900051-07-0
... snip ...
updating HTML package listing
Process R trace trap at Wed May 24 17:09:43 2006"

*ESS* with:
"[ess-site.el]: ess-customize-alist=nil
[ess-site.el _2_]: ess-customize-alist=nil
(Sqpe): ess-sqpe-versions-create making M-x defun splus62 for 
c:/progra~1/Insightful/splus62
(R): ess-rterm-versions-create making M-x defuns for
(R): ess-dialect=nil, buf=*scratch*, start-arg=nil
  current-prefix-arg=nil
(inferior-ess 0): ess-start-args=--ess
ess-setq-vars-default 0: ess-language=Initial, -dialect=nil, buf=nil, 
comint..echoes=nil, comint..sender=comint-simple-send
ess-setq-vars-default 1: ess-language=S, -dialect=R, buf=nil, 
comint..echoes=nil, comint..sender=comint-simple-send
(inf-ess 1): lang=S, dialect=R, tmp-dialect=R, buf=*scratch*
(inf-ess 1.1): procname=R temp-dialect=R, buf-name=*R*
(inferior-ess) Method #3 start=c:\mike\workspace\ buf=*R*
(ess-setq-vars-LOCAL): language=S, dialect=R, buf=nil, comint..echoes=nil, 
comint..sender=comint-simple-send
(inf-ess 2.1): ess-language=S, ess-dialect=R buf=*R*
(inf-ess 2.2): start args = --ess  , inf-ess-start-args=--ess
(inf-ess finish [S(R), C:/Program Files/R/R-2.2.1/bin/Rterm.exe(nil,nil)]
(ess-multi 0):  inf-ess-start-args=--ess  , comint-..echoes=nil
(i-ess 1): buf=*R*, lang=S, comint..echo=nil, 
comint..sender=comint-simple-send,
(i-ess 2): buf=*R*, lang=S, comint..echo=t, 
comint..sender=inferior-R-input-sender,
(ess-setq-vars-LOCAL): language=S, dialect=R, buf=nil, comint..echoes=t, 
comint..sender=inferior-R-input-sender
(i-ess 3): curr-buf=*R*, comint..echo=t, 
comint..sender=inferior-R-input-sender,
(ess-multi post inf-ess: start-args=--ess  , comint-echoes=t
(ess-multi 1):  start-args=--ess
Making Process...Buf *R*, Proc R, Prog C:/Program Files/R/R-2.2.1/bin/Rterm.exe
  Start File=nil, Args= --ess  ."

I really can't figure out what's going on.  I can't find the error log 
mentioned by the windows pop-up, and adding -debug-init to the Xemacs call 
doesn't seem to be giving me any clues.  Running rterm.exe from a command 
prompt works as expected.  R version 2.3.0 has the same problem, and so did 
version 2.2.0.  A few times, things ran fine once, directly after 
reinstalling R, but after quitting out of R and xemacs, and running it 
again, it had the same problem.

Anyone have any ideas?  This is really frustrating, as it's my primary work 
environment!!

Thanks to all for any ideas,

Mike