Set default port number in HTML help

Question

Well, the title is quite self-explanatory... Is it possible to set default port number for R's HTML help? Each time I start HTML help, port number gets changed.

Answer 1

From help(startDynamicHelp) :

Details:

  This function starts the internal HTTP server, which runs on the loopback interface ('127.0.0.1'). If 'options("help.ports")' is set to a vector of integer values, 'startDynamicHelp' will try those ports in order; otherwise, it tries up to 10 random ports to find one not in use. It can be disabled by setting the environment variable 'R_DISABLE_HTTPD' to a non-empty value. 

So it looks like you can try to override it via options("help.ports") , appropriately set. The randomization appears to be a feature.