I have a script that uses gedit to open text file in Ubuntu. That script does not work under Lubuntu. What command is required to execute the default text editor?

I want to make the script usable under Ubuntu and Lubuntu.

3

6 Answers

Use xdg-open it works in most linux distros.
example:

xdg-open /filepath/file.txt

1

You might get somewhere with /usr/bin/gnome-text-editor, as that's set using the alternatives system and points to the default editor under a gnome-ish environment. Not quite sure whether it is actually useful under lubuntu/kubuntu, but you could try.

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Just to supplement Dennis' answer, with respect to Lubuntu 12.10, if one runs sudo update-alternatives --display gnome-text-editor, the output is:

gnome-text-editor - auto mode link currently points to /usr/bin/leafpad
/usr/bin/leafpad - priority 40 slave gnome-text-editor.1.gz: /usr/share/man/man1/leafpad.1.gz
Current 'best' version is '/usr/bin/leafpad'.

And, as Dennis suggested, /usr/bin/gnome-text-editor does open Leafpad in Lubuntu.

1

Or you can install gedit

sudo apt-get install gedit

Then:

1. Right-click a text or php file
2. Select "Properties"
3. Select "Open with" tab
4. Choose among the listed/installed text editors
5. Click "Set as default"
6. Click "Close"

2

In addition to Dennis Kaarsemaker's answer, you could try using /usr/bin/editor for something even more generic. This will likely lead to a terminal-based editor be launched, though.

Cf. the update-alternatives manpage.

2

Here is a list of Lubuntu Apps. However, in 18.10 the editor has changed from Leafpad to Featherpad.

In Lubuntu 20.04 the default terminal text editor is vi: Here is a guide on how to use vi. How to use vi text editor on Lubuntu

Here is an example of using vi in a terminal (or script):

vi /etc/rc.local

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