How to change the default crontab editor

kawatom · 12-22-2005, 04:05 PM

I just installed 4.2 and want to change the default crontab editor. Which configuration file is this located?

CroMagnon · 12-22-2005, 04:15 PM

When you want to know how a command works, your best bet is to try the manual page. This is straight from "man crontab":

The -e option is used to edit the current crontab using the editor
specified by the VISUAL or EDITOR environment variables. After you
exit from the editor, the modified crontab will be installed automati-
cally. If neither of the environment variables is defined, then the
default editor /usr/bin/editor is used.

In theory this could be different on your system, so you should still check it.

dimsh · 12-22-2005, 04:44 PM

as CroMagnon said, beside, for me, I user this one-command line to edit cron jobs:

Code:

env EDITOR=nano crontab -e

kawatom · 12-22-2005, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroMagnon

When you want to know how a command works, your best bet is to try the manual page. This is straight from "man crontab":

The -e option is used to edit the current crontab using the editor
specified by the VISUAL or EDITOR environment variables. After you
exit from the editor, the modified crontab will be installed automati-
cally. If neither of the environment variables is defined, then the
default editor /usr/bin/editor is used.

In theory this could be different on your system, so you should still check it.

Very interesting, I suppose my question should have been "which file do I go to permanently change the Visual or EDITOR enviornment variable?"

I found the answer here -> blog.breuls.org/2005/11/26/default-crontab-editor/

Kumado · 04-23-2008, 06:39 PM

I was looking for the same information. I had done before but forgot how and I am adding this reply since it was one of my Google search options, at the top really.

There is a site that deals with cron howto, from command line type:
export VISUAL='pico -w'

or what editor you choose and mine was fine.

the site is : http://www.deluxnetwork.com/linux/guides/crons.php

ttfn

kumado

kenbo · 03-06-2011, 01:07 PM

I know this thread is old but this works well:

Quote:

sudo select-editor