i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

config file is read only?

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 06:20:10 +0000

Hello, I am using Ubuntu 14.04 i3 and I am trying to edit my i3 config file located in /etc/i3/config. I tried to edit the file using gedit config. I am able to open the config file using gedit but the option to save my changes is greyed out. I checked the permissions of the config file and noticed the following: -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6148 May 4 04:17 config
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5290 May 4 04:17 config.keycodes I have no clue why the file is read only when it seems like I am logged in as root? The permissions show that I have write access so I'm not quite sure why I can't edit the file, maybe I'm reading the permissions wrong? I'm not sure if this is related or not but I'm also confused as to why it shows root as the user? When I start up my machine I get to choose if I want to log in using the Unity file manager or i3. Any thoughts or help would be much appreciated.

Comment by Adaephon for
Hello,

I am using Ubuntu 14.04 i3 and I am trying to edit my i3 config file located in /etc/i3/config. I tried to edit the file using gedit config. I am able to open the config file using gedit but the option to save my changes is greyed out. I checked the permissions of the config file and noticed the following:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6148 May 4 04:17 config
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5290 May 4 04:17 config.keycodes

I have no clue why the file is read only when it seems like I am logged in as root? The permissions show that I have write access so I'm not quite sure why I can't edit the file, maybe I'm reading the permissions wrong?

I'm not sure if this is related or not but I'm also confused as to why it shows root as the user? When I start up my machine I get to choose if I want to log in using the Unity file manager or i3. Any thoughts or help would be much appreciated.

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 15:02:48 +0000

Usually root has no password on Ubuntu (unless explicitly set), so I'd guess you are not actually logged in as root. "root" in your output shows the user and group ownership of the file. As it is the system wide configuration in /etc, it belonging to root is correct.

Answer by mechpro for
Hello,

I am using Ubuntu 14.04 i3 and I am trying to edit my i3 config file located in /etc/i3/config. I tried to edit the file using gedit config. I am able to open the config file using gedit but the option to save my changes is greyed out. I checked the permissions of the config file and noticed the following:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6148 May 4 04:17 config
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5290 May 4 04:17 config.keycodes

I have no clue why the file is read only when it seems like I am logged in as root? The permissions show that I have write access so I'm not quite sure why I can't edit the file, maybe I'm reading the permissions wrong?

I'm not sure if this is related or not but I'm also confused as to why it shows root as the user? When I start up my machine I get to choose if I want to log in using the Unity file manager or i3. Any thoughts or help would be much appreciated.

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 16:38:21 +0000

Thank you oberon, I appreciate it - I was going bald trying to figure it out

Comment by Adaephon for
Thank you oberon, I appreciate it - I was going bald trying to figure it out

Mon, 13 Jul 2015 08:06:37 +0000

Please, use "add a comment" to write comments and do not post them as answers. Answers should always be answers to the original question. Also, the order of answers is not fixed, so it is not always obvious to which post you are referring.

Answer by oberon for
Hello,

I am using Ubuntu 14.04 i3 and I am trying to edit my i3 config file located in /etc/i3/config. I tried to edit the file using gedit config. I am able to open the config file using gedit but the option to save my changes is greyed out. I checked the permissions of the config file and noticed the following:

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 6148 May 4 04:17 config
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 5290 May 4 04:17 config.keycodes

I have no clue why the file is read only when it seems like I am logged in as root? The permissions show that I have write access so I'm not quite sure why I can't edit the file, maybe I'm reading the permissions wrong?

I'm not sure if this is related or not but I'm also confused as to why it shows root as the user? When I start up my machine I get to choose if I want to log in using the Unity file manager or i3. Any thoughts or help would be much appreciated.

Fri, 10 Jul 2015 06:56:32 +0000

Your personalized config should be located in **~/.i3/config** or **~/.config/i3/config** and owned by you. Please read here: https://i3wm.org/docs/userguide.html#configuring about how to properly create it.

i3 FAQ - Individual question feed

config file is read only?

Comment by Adaephon for Thank you oberon, I appreciate it - I was going bald trying to figure it out

Comment by Adaephon for
Thank you oberon, I appreciate it - I was going bald trying to figure it out