Set system-wide environment variables that hold when NOT using terminal

thebombzen · 05-31-2011, 03:30 PM

Hello, I am trying to set system wide environment variables that appear when not using a terminal. I already know how to do it for a terminal. For example, I created a file in /etc/profile.d/usrlocallib.sh which says

Code:

export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/local/lib

and sure enough, every time I open a terminal and run printenv, /usr/local/lib is inside LD_LIBRARY_PATH.

Here is the problem: even though I set this variable for a terminal, I still get issues when not using a terminal. For example: when I open k3b from the Applications->Sound and Video menu, and click on the option /dev/dvd, with an encrypted dvd in my drive. It says "Install libdvdcss for video dvd decryption support." I have installed libdvdcss, in /usr/local/lib. So when I open a terminal, then run

Code:

k3b

It opens k3b perfectly fine, and when I click on /dev/dvd, it opens it perfectly fine without any errors, and can decrypt a dvd. So...

I need a way to set system-wide environment variables that hold even when not using a terminal: so I don't have to run all my GUI's from terminal.

acid_kewpie · 05-31-2011, 04:09 PM

Sounds like you actually want it user wide, not system wide, so I'd suggest just putting it in ~/.profile. System wide it could go in /etc/profile

thebombzen · 06-01-2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acid_kewpie

Sounds like you actually want it user wide, not system wide

No, I want it system wide. Where did I say user at all?

Quote:

Originally Posted by acid_kewpie

so I'd suggest just putting it in ~/.profile. System wide it could go in /etc/profile

No. If you had read my post, it said that I already put a file in /etc/profile.d/. This is sourced by /etc/profile. Here is a section from /etc/profile:

Code:

# It's NOT a good idea to change this file unless you know what you
# are doing. It's much better to create a custom.sh shell script in
# /etc/profile.d/ to make custom changes to your environment, as this
# will prevent the need for merging in future updates.

And:

Code:

for i in /etc/profile.d/*.sh ; do
    if [ -r "$i" ]; then
        if [ "${-#*i}" != "$-" ]; then 
            . "$i"
        else
            . "$i" >/dev/null 2>&1
        fi
    fi
done

acid_kewpie · 06-02-2011, 12:56 AM

Wow, that's an interesting way of making no one want to ever help you.

MTK358 · 06-02-2011, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acid_kewpie

Wow, that's an interesting way of making no one want to ever help you.

What's wrong with wanting a variable to be visible in non-terminal applications system-wide?

acid_kewpie · 06-02-2011, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTK358

What's wrong with wanting a variable to be visible in non-terminal applications system-wide?

nothing at all. But directly ignoring the given advice and picking holes in every word is hardly a smart way to get help.

thebombzen · 06-02-2011, 10:12 AM

I wasn't directly ignoring given advice, but stating that I had already tried what you suggested.