way to open root file read only with gedit?

theKbStockpiler · 09-29-2017, 07:36 PM

The title basically says it all. Is there just a option with sudo where this could be possible?
Thanks for your expertise!

jefro · 09-29-2017, 07:49 PM

I think gedit will open a file if you have read on the file or acl permission. Did you try it? Could be wrong on that.

To open with root to edit you usually need gksudo gedit or such.

If you insist then this may still work. https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1933029

theKbStockpiler · 09-29-2017, 08:04 PM

Is there a way to temporarily change the permissions, combine 'su gedit /filename' command with a 'change permission' command?

frankbell · 09-29-2017, 09:00 PM

Quote:

temporarily change the permissions

No.

You can change the permissions as root and then change them back as root, but I know of no way to change them and put an automatic expiration date on the change.

273 · 09-30-2017, 02:51 AM

I don't really understand the question. For most root-owned configuration files, let's use /etc/fstab as an example, any user can just open them with gedit and see the contents but not write to the file.
So, exactly what is it you need to do here and why can't the files be set to world readable?

ondoho · 09-30-2017, 04:00 AM

nano has a read-only option.
or use cat, or less...

in the end it depends on who you are and what the exact permissions for that file are.

theKbStockpiler · 10-01-2017, 10:26 AM

If I'm logged in as root and I '[kbs@localhost ~]$ sudo gedit',it will open any file as root with writable privileges.
I was looking to use the simplest GUI method but VIM will do.
Thanks for all of the replies!

273 · 10-01-2017, 10:47 AM

Now I'm even more confused. Why are you using sudo when you're logged in as root? If you're not logged in as root just typing "gedit filename" will open a root file read only.

DVOM · 10-01-2017, 03:09 PM

I use xfce4 so thunar is the file manager. So a "sudo thunar" opens thunar as root and you can do/edit anything you want/need.

ondoho · 10-02-2017, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theKbStockpiler

I was looking to use the simplest GUI method

some Xapps display plain text files in a scrollable window with an OK button at the end.
xmessage can do it, and there was another one whose name eludes me atm...
you could do it with yad or xdialog.
geany has a read-only option.

all that assuming that you have write permissions on that file, otherwise it's automatically read-only (if even that).

but honestly i think you should revise your concept of users & privileges, something is amiss here...

DavidMcCann · 10-02-2017, 11:24 AM

With Thunar, you can add custom actions, so you can provide the opportunity to open a text as root from Thunar without using a terminal:
http://docs.xfce.org/xfce/thunar/cus...diting_as_root

This is supposed to work for Nautilus, but not for me
http://www.pendrivelinux.com/how-to-...a-right-click/

theKbStockpiler · 10-02-2017, 04:31 PM

I was using Mageia 1 ;because it was holding up better than 4, and when I tried to open gedit as root I got an error message that I did not commit to memory. I'm now booted to mageia 4 and don't have the issue. Using sudo as root opened up gedit but not without it.

I'm getting a crazy amount of port scans, you name it ,ssh ,telnet;etcetera, so I wanted to experiement with Iptables with less risk and a minimal amount of effort. I initially learn more from GUI apps and then like to use bash after I get aquainted with things.