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

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

## Getting Started

![PRISM Package Version
Page](./help-images/package_version_overview.png)

The **Package Version page** provides comprehensive information about a
specific version of an R package. This is PRISM's most detailed view,
offering everything from basic package information to complex dependency
trees and interactive documentation browsing.

**Quick Actions**:

1.  **📚 Browse documentation** - Access README, vignettes, and
    changelogs in the embedded viewer
2.  **🔗 Switch versions** - Use the version dropdown to explore
    different package versions
3.  **🌳 Explore dependencies** - View dependency trees and package
    relationships
4.  **🔍 Check edition availability** - See where this version and other
    versions of this package are available
5.  **❤️ Save as favorite** - Mark packages for quick future access
6.  **📖 Open external docs** - Launch full documentation in a new
    window

## Getting to Package Version Pages

### Navigation Paths

There are several ways to reach a package version page:

#### From Package Listings

- **Package overview pages** - Click version cards to see detailed
  information
- **Search results** - Click package names from search results
- **Version dropdowns** - Select specific versions from dropdown menus
- **Compare results** - Click package names from comparison results
- **Edition views** - Click package names from edition views

#### Direct URL Access

- **Version-specific URL** - `packages/{packageName}/{version}/` shows
  specific version details
- **Latest version** - `packages/{packageName}/latest/` redirects to
  newest version

## Page Header

### Package Title Section

![PRISM Package Version Page,
header](./help-images/package_version_header_multiple_versions.png)

The header provides essential package identification and navigation:

#### Header Elements

- **Package name** - Large, clickable link back to package overview
- **Version selector** - Dropdown to switch between available versions
  (when multiple exist)
- **Version badge** - Simple badge display for **single-version
  packages**
- **Favorite heart** - Click to save/remove from favorites
- **Documentation link** - Book icon for external documentation (when
  available)
- **Package description** - Brief explanation of package functionality

#### Interactive Features

- **Package name click** - Returns to package overview page
- **Version dropdown** - Navigate directly to other versions
- **Favorites toggle** - Heart icon changes when clicked
- **External docs** - Opens documentation in new tab/window

## Tab Navigation System

![PRISM Package Version Page,
tabs](./help-images/package_version_tabs.png)

The package version page uses a comprehensive tab system to organize
information:

### Available Tabs

1.  **Overview** - Documentation browser with README, vignettes, and
    package details
2.  **Dependencies** - Interactive dependency trees and requirement
    lists
3.  **Reverse Dependencies** - Packages that depend on this package
4.  **Additional Info** - Version history, authors, and archive
    information

### Tab Behavior

- **Single active tab** - Only one tab content visible at a time
- **Persistent state** - Tab selection remembered during navigation via
  URL

## Overview Tab

The Overview tab provides an integrated documentation browsing
experience:

### Documentation Sidebar

![PRISM Package Version Page, overview
tab](./help-images/package_version_docs_sidebar.png)

The sidebar provides navigation for all available documentation:

#### Sidebar Content

- **README** - Package introduction and basic usage
- **Changelog** - Version history and updates
- **Vignettes section** - Detailed tutorials and guides
- **No documentation message** - Clear indication when docs aren't
  available

#### Sidebar Features

- **Collapsible on mobile** - Tap "Contents" to show/hide sidebar
- **Click navigation** - Select different documentation sections
- **Active indication** - Current section highlighted with blue border
- **Responsive design** - Adapts to screen size

### Documentation Viewer

The main content area displays documentation in an embedded viewer:

#### Viewer Features

- **Embedded display** - Documentation loads within PRISM interface
- **Full functionality** - All documentation features available
- **Responsive layout** - Adjusts to available screen space
- **External links** - Links to license, GitHub, issues, and website

### Package Description

Below the header, key package information is displayed:

#### Description Handling

- **Truncated display** - Long descriptions automatically truncated
- **Expand button** - "Show more" button for longer descriptions
- **Automatic detection** - Expand button only appears when needed
- **Responsive behavior** - Adapts to screen size changes

![PRISM Package Version Page, package description
expanded](./help-images/package_version_expanded.png)

![PRISM Package Version Page, package description
collapsed](./help-images/package_version_contracted.png)

#### Additional Details

- **Release date** - When the version was published
- **External links** - License, GitHub, issues, website access
- **Link availability** - Gray icons when links not available

## Dependencies Tab

![PRISM Package Version Page, dependencies
tab](./help-images/package_version_dependencies.png)

The Dependencies tab provides comprehensive dependency analysis:

### Dependency Tables

Dependencies are organized into clear categories:

#### Table Categories

- **R Version** - Required R version constraints
- **Depends, Imports, & Enhances** - Core package dependencies
- **LinkingTo** - C/C++ linking dependencies
- **Suggests** - Optional or recommended packages

#### Dependency Information

- **Package names** - Clickable links to dependency packages
- **Version constraints** - Required version ranges
- **Dependency types** - Import, depends, suggests, etc.
- **Recursive indicator** - Shows indirect dependencies

### Recursive Dependencies Toggle

![PRISM Package Version Page, recursive dependencies
toggle](./help-images/package_version_recursive_dependency.png)

Control the display of indirect dependencies (**shown by default**).
Toggling the Recurisve dependencies **off** will only show direct
dependencies for a particular package:

![PRISM Package Version Page, recursive dependencies
toggle](./help-images/package_version_dependencies_recursive_off.png)

Showing the recursive dependencies by default gives the users a more
complete picture of the package's dependencies. This is especially
useful for packages that have many dependencies, or for packages that
are used in many other packages.

#### Toggle Functionality

- **Direct dependencies** - Always visible (required by this package)
- **Indirect dependencies** - Hidden by default, shown when toggled
- **Visual distinction** - Different styling for direct vs. indirect
- **Stricter constraints** - Shows most restrictive version requirements

### Interactive Dependency Tree

![PRISM Package Version Page, dependency
tree](./help-images/package_version_dependency_tree.png)

An interactive network graph showing package relationships:

#### Tree Features

- **Collapsible section** - Click chevron to expand/collapse tree
- **Interactive graph** - Pan, zoom, and search within the visualization
- **Node connections** - Visual representation of package dependencies
- **Search functionality** - Find specific packages within the tree

#### Graph Controls

- **Search box** - Find packages by name
- **Fit view button** - Reset graph to optimal view
- **Navigation instructions** - Clear guidance for graph interaction
- **Loading indicator** - Shows while graph is being generated

#### Graph Interaction

- **Pan** - Click and drag to move around
- **Zoom** - Shift + scroll wheel to zoom in/out
- **Node search** - Highlight specific packages
- **Reset view** - Return to default view

## Reverse Dependencies Tab

![PRISM Package Version Page, reverse dependencies
table](./help-images/package_version_reverse_dependencies.png)

Shows packages that depend on the current package:

### Table Content

- **Package names** - Clickable links to dependent packages
- **Package titles** - Brief descriptions of dependent packages
- **Dependency type** - How they depend on this package
- **Version constraints** - What versions they require

### Table Features

- **Sortable columns** - Click headers to sort by any field
- **Filterable content** - Search within reverse dependencies
- **Click navigation** - Click package names to view details
- **Comprehensive data** - Shows all packages using this one

## Additional Info Tab

![PRISM Package Version Page, additional info
tab](./help-images/package_version_additional_info.png)

Provides supplementary package information:

### Version History

![PRISM Package Version Page, version
history](./help-images/package_version_history_versions.png)

Displays all available versions of the package:

#### Version Cards

- **Version numbers** - Clear identification of each version
- **Release dates** - When each version was published
- **Archived status** - Visual indication of archived versions
- **Click navigation** - Click versions to view their details

#### Archive Indicators

![PRISM Package Version Page, version history with
archive](./help-images/package_version_history_archive.png)

![PRISM Package Version Page, version history with archive
link](./help-images/package_version_history_archive_link.png)

- **Archived overlay** - Gray overlay for replaced versions
- **Archive message** - Explanation of archived status
- **Edition availability** - Shows where archived versions can be found

### Author Information

![PRISM Package Version Page, author
information](./help-images/package_version_history_authors.png)

Lists package authors and contributors:

#### Author Details

- **Author names** - Package creators and maintainers
- **Roles** - Author, maintainer, contributor roles
- **Contact information** - Email addresses when available
- **Contribution details** - Specific contributions when listed

## User Interactions

### Version Switching

![PRISM Package Version Page, version
dropdown](./help-images/package_version_version_dropdown.png)

Navigate between different package versions:

#### Dropdown Features

- **Available versions** - All versions with documentation indicators
- **Current selection** - Highlighted current version
- **Direct navigation** - Click to switch versions immediately
- **Documentation status** - Book icons show which versions have docs

### Favorites Management

![PRISM Package Version Page,
favorited](./help-images/package_version_favorited.png)

Save packages for quick access:

#### Heart Icon States

- **Unfilled heart** - Package not in favorites
- **Filled red heart** - Package saved as favorite
- **Click toggle** - Add/remove from favorites
- **Persistent storage** - Favorites saved in browser

### External Documentation

![PRISM Package Version Page, external
documentation](./help-images/package_version_book.png)

Access full documentation outside PRISM:

#### Documentation Access

- **Book icon** - Opens external documentation
- **New tab** - Documentation opens separately
- **Full features** - Complete documentation functionality
- **Version-specific** - Links to correct version

## Common Workflows

### Exploring Package Documentation

1.  **Start with Overview tab** - Begin with README and basic
    information
2.  **Browse vignettes** - Use sidebar to explore tutorials and guides
3.  **Check changelog** - Review version history and updates
4.  **Access external docs** - Use book icon for complete documentation

### Understanding Package Dependencies

1.  **Review dependency tables** - Start with main dependencies
2.  **Toggle recursive view** - Show/hide indirect dependencies
3.  **Explore dependency tree** - Use interactive visualization
4.  **Check reverse dependencies** - See what packages use this one

### Comparing Package Versions

1.  **Use version dropdown** - Switch between available versions
2.  **Compare changelogs** - Review differences between versions
3.  **Check dependency changes** - See how requirements evolved
4.  **Note archive status** - Understand version availability

### Planning Package Usage

1.  **Check R version requirements** - Ensure compatibility
2.  **Review dependencies** - Understand what else you'll need
3.  **Read documentation** - Understand package functionality
4.  **Save as favorite** - Mark for future reference

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues

**Documentation not loading in iframe?**

- Check your internet connection
- Try the external documentation link (book icon)
- Ensure JavaScript is enabled in your browser
- Try refreshing the page

**Version dropdown not working?**

- Ensure JavaScript is enabled
- Try refreshing the page if dropdown seems stuck
- Check that you're clicking the dropdown area properly

**Dependency tree not expanding?**

- Click the chevron icon to expand the tree section
- Wait for the loading indicator to complete
- Try refreshing if the tree seems stuck loading

**Can't navigate between tabs?**

- Ensure JavaScript is enabled in your browser
- Try clicking directly on tab names
- Refresh the page if tabs seem unresponsive

### Navigation Issues

**Lost in documentation?**

- Use the sidebar to navigate to different sections
- Click the package name to return to package overview
- Use the back button to return to previous views

**Can't find specific version?**

- Check if the version exists in the dropdown
- Some versions may only be available in certain registries
- Try accessing through the package overview page

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