python - Can I use rpy2 to save a pandas dataframe to an .Rdata file?

Question

I never used rpy2 before, but I am just wondering if I could use it to save a python object (a pandas DataFrame) in an R-readable file. I am having trouble to move objects between these environments mainly because I'm using Windows and the data source is an Excel file. Yes, the kind that has cells with text including inverted commas, newlines, and all the stuff that CSV can't handle adequately.

I usually rely on XLConnectJars, but it seems to be broken

Installing package(s) into ‘C:/Program Files/R/library’
(as ‘lib’ is unspecified)
trying URL 'http://cran.csiro.au/bin/windows/contrib/2.15/XLConnectJars_0.2-4.zip'
Content type 'application/zip' length 16538311 bytes (15.8 Mb)
opened URL
downloaded 15.3 Mb

Warning in install.packages :
  downloaded length 16011264 != reported length 16538311

pandas reads it properly, but I need to use the information in R.

Answer 1

Here is how you write/read .RData files with rpy2 (since accepted solution is deprecated and doesn't show how to save to .RData file):

import rpy2
from rpy2 import robjects
from rpy2.robjects import pandas2ri
pandas2ri.activate()

# read .RData file as a pandas dataframe
def load_rdata_file(filename):
    r_data = robjects.r['get'](robjects.r['load'](filename))
    df = pandas2ri.ri2py(r_data)
    return df

# write pandas dataframe to an .RData file
def save_rdata_file(df, filename):
    r_data = pandas2ri.py2ri(df)
    robjects.r.assign("my_df", r_data)
    robjects.r("save(my_df, file='{}')".format(filename))