---
engines:
- path: /opt/quarto/share/extension-subtrees/julia-engine/\_extensions/julia-engine/julia-engine.js
title: "PRISM Documentation: Index Page"
toc-title: Table of contents
---

[Back to Help](../help/)

## Getting Started

![PRISM Home Page](./help-images/index_page.png)

**New to PRISM?** Get up and running quickly:

1.  **🔍 Search for packages** - Type package names or keywords in the
    search box
2.  **📋 Copy repository URLs** - Click the clipboard icon next to any
    edition
3.  **❤️ Save favorites** - Click the heart icon on packages you use
    frequently

## Key Terminology

For detailed definitions of PRISM-specific terms like "registries,"
"editions," and "collections," please refer to the [PRISM terminology
documentation](./glossary.html).

## Common Workflows

### Installing Packages in R

1.  **Find your edition** - Browse registries to find the right package
    collection
2.  **Copy the URL** - Click the clipboard icon next to the edition name
3.  **Use in R** - use your favorite R package manager to install
    packages from the edition URL

### Building a Reproducible Environment

1.  **Choose a Repository Edition** (date-based snapshots)
2.  **Copy the repository URL**
3.  **Document the URL** in your project for future reproducibility
4.  **Install all packages** from the same repository URL

### Finding Compatible Packages

1.  **Select your R version** from the dropdown (e.g., "R 4.1")
2.  **Browse filtered results** - only compatible packages will show
3.  **Look for warning indicators** - yellow warnings mean some versions
    may not work
4.  **Use the search** - search works across package names and
    descriptions

## Interface Overview

### Navigation Bar

![PRISM Navigation Bar](./help-images/index_navbar.png)

- **PRISM Logo** - Return to Home page
- **Navigation Menu**: Home, Packages, Compare, Registries
- **Global Search** - Search packages and navigate to packages page
- **Registry Filter** - Control which registries are visible (persists
  across pages)

![PRISM Registry Filter](./help-images/registry_dropdown.png)

### Sidebar Navigation

![PRISM Sidebar](./help-images/index_sidebar.png)

Switch between two main views:

- **🏢 Registries** - Browse package collections and editions
- **📦 Packages** - Search and filter individual packages

The active view is highlighted with a blue border and colored
background. On mobile devices, tap **"Views"** to access the sidebar
menu.

## Registries View

![PRISM Registries View](./help-images/index_registries.png)

The Registries view organizes package collections into three expandable
categories.

### Registry Types (Expandable Sections)

Click the chevron arrows to expand or collapse each registry type:

#### Repository Registries

![PRISM Repository
Registries](./help-images/index_repository_registries.png)

**Date-based snapshots** of package ecosystems:

- **Self-contained** - All dependencies available within the same
  edition
- **Reproducible** - Packages guaranteed to work together
- **Stable** - Versions don't change once published

> **💡 Best For**: Production environments, reproducible research,
> regulatory compliance

#### Collection Registries

![PRISM Collection
Registries](./help-images/index_collection_registries.png)

**Curated package sets** for specific purposes:

- **Thematic** - Packages selected for specific domains or workflows
- **Updated** - May receive updates as new versions become available
- **Quality-assured** - Tested combinations of packages

> **💡 Best For**: Domain-specific work, getting started with related
> packages

#### Individual Package Registries

![PRISM Individual Package
Registries](./help-images/index_individual_package_registries.png)

**Single-package focus** for specialized needs:

- **Development versions** - Latest or experimental package versions
- **Frequent updates** - Packages that update often
- **Testing** - Specific versions for testing purposes

> **💡 Best For**: Package development, testing specific versions,
> getting latest features

### Registry Tabs and Edition Cards

Within each registry type:

- **Click tab headers** (e.g., "stratus") to switch between different
  registries
- **Only one registry** is shown at a time
- **Selected tab** has a white background and bold text
- **Edition cards** show package count and repository information

### View Controls

![PRISM View Controls](./help-images/view_controls.png)

Toggle between **Grid View** (cards) and **Table View** using the
buttons in the top-right corner.

## Packages View

### Packages as a table:

- **Package Name** - Click to view detailed package information
- **Versions** - Available versions (dropdown shows multiple if
  available)
- **Title** - Brief description of package functionality\
- **Docs** - Documentation availability indicator
- **Sortable columns** - Click headers to sort

![PRISM Index Packages Table](./help-images/index_packages_table.png)

### Packages as a grid:

- Same information in a card-based layout
- Better for browsing and visual scanning
- Heart icon for adding to favorites

![PRISM Index Packages Grid](./help-images/index_packages_grid.png)

Browse and search all available R packages with intelligent filtering.

### Package Version Dropdown

- **Multiple Versions** - Open the dropdown to see all versions
  available for a particular package
- **Filtered Results** - Package versions that are compatible with the
  applied filters are distinguished from those that are not
- **Documentation Support** - Package versions that have generated
  documentation available have the blue book icon

#### Table View:

![PRISM Index Packages Version
Dropdown](./help-images/package_table_dropdown.png)

#### Grid View:

![PRISM Index Packages Version
Dropdown](./help-images/package_card_dropdown.png)

### My Favorites Section

![PRISM Index Package Favorites
Section](./help-images/index_favorites.png)

When you save packages as favorites (using the ❤️ heart icon), they
appear in a dedicated section at the top of the page. This section:

- **Automatically appears** when you have favorites
- **Collapsible** - Click the chevron to expand/collapse
- **Quick access** - Direct links to your most-used packages
- **Persistent** - Favorites are saved in your browser

### Search Functionality

![PRISM Index Packages Search](./help-images/index_package_search.png)

**How Search Works**:

- **Real-time filtering** - Results update as you type (with 150ms delay
  for performance)
- **Searches both** package names and descriptions
- **Fuzzy matching** - Finds packages even with slight misspellings
- **Persistent** - Search terms are saved in the URL for sharing

**Two Types of Search**:

1.  **Global Search** (navbar) - Navigates to packages page with search
    applied
2.  **Local Search** (packages view) - Filters current page in real-time

### Filtering System

#### R Version Filter

![PRISM Index Packages R Version
Filter](./help-images/r_version_filter.png)

- **Page-specific** - Only affects the current page
- **Compatibility checking** - Automatically filters incompatible
  packages
- **Version matching** - Uses semantic version comparison
- **URL parameter** - Filter state saved in URL for sharing

#### Registry Filter

![PRISM Registry Filter](./help-images/registry_dropdown.png)

**Registry Filter Behavior**:

- **"All Registries"** - Shows content from all available registries
- **"(X) Selected"** - Shows only content from selected registries
- **Site-wide** - Affects all pages you visit
- **Session persistent** - Remembered until you close your browser
- **Instant updates** - Changes apply immediately

### Results and Indicators

#### Package Count Display

![PRISM Index Packages Results
Counter](./help-images/search_results_count.png)

Shows how many packages match your current search and filters.

#### Warning Indicators

![PRISM Index Packages Warning
Indicators](./help-images/warning_indicator.png)

Yellow warning messages appear when: - **Version conflicts** - Some
package versions don't match your R version - **Registry filtering** -
Some packages are hidden by registry selection - **Search
limitations** - Filters have significantly reduced available packages

<!-- ## Mobile Experience

On smaller screens and mobile devices:

- **Collapsible sidebar** - Tap "Views" to show/hide navigation
- **Responsive layout** - All features available in mobile-optimized format
- **Touch-friendly** - Larger touch targets for mobile interaction
- **Simplified filters** - Mobile-specific filter layout for easier access -->

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues

**No packages showing up?**

- Check your registry filter settings (try "All Registries")
- Clear your R version filter
- Clear your search term

**Search not working?**

- Ensure JavaScript is enabled in your browser
- Try refreshing the page
- Clear your search and try different terms

**Can't copy repository URLs?**

- Ensure JavaScript is enabled
- Try right-clicking and "Copy" if the clipboard icon doesn't work
- Check your browser's clipboard permissions

**Favorites not saving?**

- Check that your browser allows local storage
- Ensure you're not in private/incognito mode
- Try clearing browser cache and cookies for this site

**See a bug/Missing feature?**

- Please report it to the A2-Ai team with a the version number and a
  description!

## Footer Information

![PRISM Index Footer](./help-images/footer.png)

The footer contains:

- **A2-Ai Website** - https://a2-ai.com/
- **Version number** - Version of PRISM currently deployed. Useful for
  bug reports and feature requests

<!-- ## Advanced Tips

1. **Bookmark filtered views** - URLs contain your search and filter state
2. **Share filtered results** - Send URLs to colleagues with your filters applied
3. **Use edition snapshots** - Always prefer repository editions for production work
4. **Monitor favorites** - Regularly check your favorite packages for updates
5. **Combine search and filters** - Use both search terms and filters for precise results -->

[Back to Help](../help/)