the noobest question of them all

JNaas · 09-30-2004, 05:36 PM

How do i edit a file/script in console as root??

jjflash53 · 09-30-2004, 05:51 PM

vi or emacs or maybe Midnight Commander

greg108 · 09-30-2004, 05:52 PM

use vi editor.
you can open text file:

vi filename

you have to learn some simple command in vi.

here is one tutorial:

http://locutus.kingwoodcable.com/jfd/vi.html

also

man vi

JNaas · 09-30-2004, 05:52 PM

dude??? i'm the noob'est noob!!!!!

mugstar · 09-30-2004, 05:53 PM

It depends which console-based text editor is installed on your system.

Try (and these are in *no*particular*order* - no flame war, please!):

man nano
man pico
man emacs
man vim

Whichever one works, read the manual to learn the basic commands then fire it up like this:

nano /path/to/filename

pogromca · 09-30-2004, 05:53 PM

The same way as you edit files as non-root

I use vi editor. You just type:
vi myfile.sh
where myfile.sh is the file you want to edit.

Make sure you check man pages for vi to learn how to navigate while in the editor. Or find a tutorial on the internet on how to use it.

pogromca · 09-30-2004, 05:56 PM

Wow.. so many replies within 3 minutes.

jjflash53 · 09-30-2004, 05:58 PM

you might even have a tutorial for vi/vim already in your distro, try typing vimtutor at the command prompt, or type mc to see if you have the Midnight Commander file manager.

JNaas · 09-30-2004, 06:04 PM

i tried thi vi thing.... didn't get it??

mc way worked like a charm... guess i got some reading to do!!??

thx guys

ehawk · 09-30-2004, 06:33 PM

Do not start with vi. Look at which editors are listed in your GUI selections, try them out as normal user, then run them from the command line after using su to become root

su
[enter root password]
editor_name

I think you would find the editor kate very intuitive if you have it and you have a GUI running.

MACSRULE · 09-30-2004, 07:17 PM

pico (nano on some machines) is very simple, my personal choice if i don't need the power of emacs