Virtual console and GUI programs

[NormR2]

Can GUI programs be run in a Virtual Console(Ctrl+Alt+F1)?
I get an error message when I try to execute a java program:


No X11 DISPLAY variable was set, but this program performed an operation which requies it.

When I try to execute gedit I get an error message "... cannot open display"

Is it possible to run a GUI pgm?
What needs to be set/changed?

Thanks,
Norm

[Cypher]

If by virtual console, you mean the text console..then no you cannot run GUI programs there..

[lazyart]

Hmm... i wonder what would happen if you typed startx in a virtual terminal... Can't try it out-- I'm on a windows machine. :(

EDIT: I guess you can do this. Check this link: http://www.tuxfiles.org/linuxhelp/multiple-x.html

[Cypher]

I'm guessing that since the OP hit CTRL+ALT+F1 to get to the console, they are actually in X, but have gone to the text console momentarily..

[NormR2]

As a newbie, there is a lot of terms I'm not familiar with:

What is the "text console"?
Where am I when I Ctl+Alt+F1, enter my userid and password?

What is X? How do you get there from a text console or from a Virtual console?

What is a the difference between a Virtual Console, a text console and a virtual terminal?