Setting the Default Editor

Support knowledgebase (ke_editor-default)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: All versions

Symptom:

The programs do not start the editor of your choice.

Cause:

Before an editor is started, the environment variables EDITOR or VISUAL are evaluated. If these variables have not been set, the program usually starts vi.

Solution:

If you use Bash as default shell, set the environment variables mentioned above in the file ~/.bashrc or in /etc/profile for the whole system. For example, if you want to work with the editor joe, insert the following lines in one of these files:

EDITOR=joe
VISUAL=joe
export EDITOR VISUAL

If you use the shell Tcsh, the variables must be set in the file ~/.cshrc or /etc/csh.cshrc for the whole system. Insert the following lines:

setenv EDITOR joe
setenv VISUAL joe

Keywords: EDITOR

Categories: Knowhow

SDB-ke_editor-default, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 01. Jul 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 03. Jul 2002 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)