RMarkdown

This course teaches you how to use RMarkdown to create dynamic, professional, and fully reproducible research reports. No copy pasting from the statistical analysis tool to the documentation file anymore. You will learn how RMarkdown directly builds R code, its output (like plots and tables), and your written text in a single document (e.g. as html, pdf or word document). Literate programming using RMarkdown equips you with the skills to produce professional, shareable reports where the analysis, results, and interpretation are seamlessly integrated, significantly improving the transparency and efficiency of your work.

Target Audience

Researchers who want to learn how to create dynamic, reproducible, and professional reports directly from their R analysis.

Topics

The course covers the essentials of creating automated reports:

• R Markdown Fundamentals:
  • Mastering the Markdown syntax for text formatting.
  • Seamlessly embedding and controlling R code chunks.
• Integrating Outputs:
  • Generating and customizing figures and tables directly in your document.
  • Structuring reports with sections, tables of contents, and citations.
• Automating and Exporting:
  • Using parameters to create customized reports for different datasets or conditions.
  • Exporting your final document to multiple formats, including HTML, PDF, and Word.

Methods

The course consists of lessons on how to work with RMarkdown and hands-on examples with best-practice solutions.

Learning Goals

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

1. Combine formatted text and live R code within a single R Markdown document.
2. Generate and customize tables and figures directly within your report for a seamless workflow.
3. Structure a professional document with a table of contents, citations, and references.
4. Automate the creation of reports using parameters to make your work more efficient.
5. Produce polished, publication-quality reports in various formats (HTML, PDF, Word).

Prerequisites

Solid programming skills in R (e.g., from the Introduction to R course or equivalent experience).

Format

• Duration: either 1 full day or 2 half days
• Language: English
• This course will be offered either on campus (in person), or online.
• For online courses we use the software Zoom.

Dates and Application

• Courses provided for Helmholtz Munich:
  • You can check the current dates and whether the courses are already fully booked here*.
  • Please read the corresponding FAQ* before applying via the forms of the HR Development department*.
• Courses provided for HIDA:
  • You can check the current dates and whether the courses are already fully booked here.
  • Registrations for these courses are exclusively possible via the provided homepage.

 * Links marked with * are only available for Helmholtz Munich staff.