Quarto Introduction

Dynamic Documents and Reports

Creating dynamic, reproducible, and visually appealing reports is a cornerstone of modern data analysis. Quarto, the next-generation publishing system, empowers data professionals to seamlessly integrate text, code, and visualizations into a unified output. In this post, we’ll explore Quarto, set it up in RStudio, and create reproducible R Markdown-style documents.

What is Quarto?

Quarto is a versatile, open-source publishing system designed for technical and scientific communication. Building on the foundations of R Markdown, Quarto extends support to multiple programming languages (R, Python, Julia, and Observable) and provides enhanced flexibility for producing documents, presentations, blogs, and more.

Key Features of Quarto

  • Cross-Language Support: Write and execute code in R, Python, Julia, or Observable within a single document.
  • Output Versatility: Generate HTML, PDF, Word, presentations, books, and even interactive dashboards.
  • Reproducibility: Ensure consistent results by embedding code directly into your reports.
  • Custom Design: Easily style your documents with themes, custom CSS, or LaTeX templates.

Step 1: Setting Up Quarto in RStudio

To get started with Quarto in RStudio, follow these steps:

1. Install Quarto

  • Visit the Quarto website and download the installer for your operating system.
  • Run the installer and follow the instructions to complete the setup.

2. Verify Installation

After installation, verify that Quarto is installed correctly by running the following command in your terminal or command prompt:

bash
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quarto check

You should see a confirmation that Quarto is installed and working properly.

3. Enable Quarto in RStudio

  • Ensure you have the latest version of RStudio (version 2022.07.0 or later).
  • Open RStudio, and Quarto will be automatically integrated. You’ll find new options to create Quarto documents under File > New File > Quarto Document.

Step 2: Creating Reproducible R Markdown-Style Documents

Let’s create your first Quarto document to experience its capabilities.

1. Start a New Quarto Document

  • In RStudio, go to File > New File > Quarto Document.
  • A dialog box will appear. Choose your preferred format (e.g., HTML, PDF, or Word) and click OK.

RStudio will create a basic .qmd file with boilerplate content similar to this:

yaml
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---
title: "My First Quarto Document"
author: "Your Name"
format: html
---

2. Add R Code Chunks

Like R Markdown, you can add R code chunks using backticks and curly braces:

r
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::: {.cell}

```{.r .cell-code}
# Example R code
summary(mtcars)
      mpg             cyl             disp             hp       
 Min.   :10.40   Min.   :4.000   Min.   : 71.1   Min.   : 52.0  
 1st Qu.:15.43   1st Qu.:4.000   1st Qu.:120.8   1st Qu.: 96.5  
 Median :19.20   Median :6.000   Median :196.3   Median :123.0  
 Mean   :20.09   Mean   :6.188   Mean   :230.7   Mean   :146.7  
 3rd Qu.:22.80   3rd Qu.:8.000   3rd Qu.:326.0   3rd Qu.:180.0  
 Max.   :33.90   Max.   :8.000   Max.   :472.0   Max.   :335.0  
      drat             wt             qsec             vs        
 Min.   :2.760   Min.   :1.513   Min.   :14.50   Min.   :0.0000  
 1st Qu.:3.080   1st Qu.:2.581   1st Qu.:16.89   1st Qu.:0.0000  
 Median :3.695   Median :3.325   Median :17.71   Median :0.0000  
 Mean   :3.597   Mean   :3.217   Mean   :17.85   Mean   :0.4375  
 3rd Qu.:3.920   3rd Qu.:3.610   3rd Qu.:18.90   3rd Qu.:1.0000  
 Max.   :4.930   Max.   :5.424   Max.   :22.90   Max.   :1.0000  
       am              gear            carb      
 Min.   :0.0000   Min.   :3.000   Min.   :1.000  
 1st Qu.:0.0000   1st Qu.:3.000   1st Qu.:2.000  
 Median :0.0000   Median :4.000   Median :2.000  
 Mean   :0.4062   Mean   :3.688   Mean   :2.812  
 3rd Qu.:1.0000   3rd Qu.:4.000   3rd Qu.:4.000  
 Max.   :1.0000   Max.   :5.000   Max.   :8.000

:::

yaml
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This code will run and embed the output directly in your document.

### **3. Render the Document**
- Click the **Render** button (or press `Ctrl + Shift + K` on Windows / `Cmd + Shift + K` on macOS).
- Quarto will execute the code and produce the specified output format.

### **4. Explore YAML Options**
Customize your document by editing the YAML header. For example:

```yaml
---
title: "Exploring Quarto"
author: "Data Enthusiast"
date: "2024-11-23"
format:
  html:
    toc: true
    toc-depth: 2
---

This configuration adds a table of contents and specifies its depth.

Best Practices for Reproducibility

  1. Use Code Chunks Wisely: Organize your code into logical sections to improve readability.
  2. Set a Seed: Use set.seed() for reproducibility in random operations.
  3. Document Assumptions: Clearly explain your methods and include comments within code chunks.
  4. Version Control: Pair your Quarto documents with Git for robust version tracking.

Why Choose Quarto Over R Markdown?

While R Markdown remains an excellent tool, Quarto offers significant advancements:

  • Multi-Language Support: Incorporate analyses from R, Python, and Julia within a single document.
  • Enhanced Customization: Easily create polished, professional documents with advanced layout options.
  • Unified Ecosystem: Use the same tool for documents, blogs, presentations, and more.

Conclusion

Quarto is a game-changer for creating dynamic and reproducible reports. With its seamless integration in RStudio, enhanced flexibility, and multi-language support, Quarto is an essential tool for data analysts, researchers, and technical writers.