HOWTO: Easily open any file as root via drag & drop

23meg

Create a launcher with the following command:

Code:

gksudo "gnome-open %u"

When you drag and drop any file on this launcher (it's useful to put it on the desktop or on a panel), it will be opened as root with its own associated application. This is helpful especially when you're editing config files owned by root, since they will be opened as read only by default with gedit, etc.

bored2k

Very nice trick 23meg! very nice.

Buffalo Soldier

So simple yet so easy and usefull. Wonder why no one has thought of it earlier. Should definitely be added to UbuntuGuide.org

dare2dreamer

Should be a trivial matter to work this up as a nautilus script, so it appears as an option in your right-click menu.

Call me silly, but an icon on my desktop that opens things as root just makes me nervous.

Nis

Quote:

Originally Posted by dare2dreamer

Should be a trivial matter to work this up as a nautilus script, so it appears as an option in your right-click menu.

Call me silly, but an icon on my desktop that opens things as root just makes me nervous.

As and you shall receive.

Put the following into ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/Open\ as\ root

Code:

#!/bin/sh
gksudo "gnome-open  $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_URIS"

Then make it executable with

Code:

chmod +x ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/Open\ as\ root

Dracontopes

Dude this is great!

Nice job!

23meg

yes that's better, thanks Nis. and thanks all for the kind words

dare2dreamer

I love it when someone else does the work for me.

You might do a little error checking on the file names to make sure it doesn't hang up on filenames with spaces.

Either way, lovely hack.

Nis

Quote:

Originally Posted by dare2dreamer

I love it when someone else does the work for me.

You might do a little error checking on the file names to make sure it doesn't hang up on filenames with spaces.

Either way, lovely hack.

Already done. Passing the file as a URI (instead of just a filename) is already taken care of by Nautilus and gnome-open. I believe the spaces are replaced with "%20".

maqi

This is excellent

Thanks 23meg and Nils. Life just got even easier

maqi

April 5th, 2005	#1
23meg Ubuntu QA Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: İstanbul Beans: 5,882	HOWTO: Easily open any file as root via drag & drop Create a launcher with the following command: Code: gksudo "gnome-open %u" When you drag and drop any file on this launcher (it's useful to put it on the desktop or on a panel), it will be opened as root with its own associated application. This is helpful especially when you're editing config files owned by root, since they will be opened as read only by default with gedit, etc. __________________ "Theoretically, a great number of ideas assures a great number of choices, but such choices are essentially quantitative. This practice is as bewildering as it is wasteful. It discourages spontaneity, encourages indifference, and more often than not produces results which are neither distinguished, interesting, nor effective. In short, good ideas rarely come in bunches." -- Paul Rand, The Politics of Design

April 5th, 2005	#2
bored2k Skinny Extra Sweet Ubuntu Join Date: Feb 2005 My beans are hidden!	Re: HOWTO: Easily open any file as root via drag & drop Very nice trick 23meg! very nice. __________________ Sylvia: Look at what you've done to him! Christof: I have given Truman the chance to lead a normal life. The world, the place you live in, is the sick place.

April 5th, 2005	#3
Buffalo Soldier 100% Pure Ubuntu Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Beans: 884 Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron	Re: HOWTO: Easily open any file as root via drag & drop So simple yet so easy and usefull. Wonder why no one has thought of it earlier. Should definitely be added to UbuntuGuide.org

April 5th, 2005	#4
dare2dreamer A Carafe of Ubuntu Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Beans: 111	Re: HOWTO: Easily open any file as root via drag & drop Should be a trivial matter to work this up as a nautilus script, so it appears as an option in your right-click menu. Call me silly, but an icon on my desktop that opens things as root just makes me nervous. __________________ --dare2dreamer

April 5th, 2005	#6
Dracontopes Gee! These Aren't Roasted! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: The Netherlands Beans: 162 Ubuntu Breezy 5.10	Re: HOWTO: Easily open any file as root via drag & drop Dude this is great! Nice job!

April 6th, 2005	#8
dare2dreamer A Carafe of Ubuntu Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Dallas, TX Beans: 111	Re: HOWTO: Easily open any file as root via drag & drop I love it when someone else does the work for me. You might do a little error checking on the file names to make sure it doesn't hang up on filenames with spaces. Either way, lovely hack. __________________ --dare2dreamer

April 6th, 2005	#10
maqi A Carafe of Ubuntu Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia Beans: 105 Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy	Re: HOWTO: Easily open any file as root via drag & drop This is excellent Thanks 23meg and Nils. Life just got even easier maqi __________________ A Gentleman is one who can play the bagpipes, yet chooses not to.

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