nano as default editor systemwide

barbar · 03-23-2008, 12:01 PM

Hi,

I added

Code:

export EDITOR="nano" to /etc/profile

.But when using

Code:

crontab -e or 
visudo

vi is still used.

How can I use nano as default editor for all users?

Speek · 03-23-2008, 12:39 PM

Try also adding:
export VISUAL="nano"
to /etc/profile

barbar · 03-23-2008, 01:08 PM

Thanks,

VISUAL = nano worked for crontab -e.
To use nano with sudo I added

Code:

Defaults  editor=/usr/bin/nano 

to /etc/sudoers.

shadowsnipes · 03-23-2008, 05:36 PM

This is somewhat off topic, but related. I recommend creating an alias for nano called snano that will allow you to easily see syntax highlighting for shell scripts that don't have the .sh extension (such as all the rc scripts, etc).

I add this to my .profile or /etc/profile

Code:

alias snano='nano -Y sh'

So for shell scripts without a .sh extension I run snano instead of nano.

Be sure to create or edit /etc/nanorc so that syntax highlighting is activated. If you don't have that file you can use /usr/doc/nano-VERSION/nanorc.sample to start you off (if I remember correctly uncommenting some lines on the bottom will be enough to activate syntax highlighting).