[SOLVED]using text editor with terminal

[sgull]

Hopefully my inquiry here makes sense and can be understood what I'm asking.
Generally what is the reason for utilizing a text editor program (gedit for example) for transferring/entering commands, scripts, etc into the terminal? Specifically I ask because often on a web page there might be somebody posting a script or string of commands to help somebody else do something, and the sudo line they suggest includes such as sudo gedit and then the commands following that (whereupon then the gedit program will then open ready for text entry). Is it the idea/expectation that the person wanting to use the posted script (or string of commands etc) will then copy and paste, from the web page, that posted info into gedit, and then again copy and paste that same info into the terminal? Why not just copy directly from the web page and paste into the terminal? I'm confused about that. Any comment/advice that might help to clarify this for me would be appreciated.

[remoulder]

Not sure if I understand you correctly, but if someone is suggesting running gedit in a series of instructions it is generally to edit or create a particular file. The correct syntax btw would be gksudo gedit NOT sudo gedit. It is however not necessary to use gedit to copy/paste as you say, you can do this directly (using the mouse) into the terminal.

[sgull]

[quote="remoulder"] The correct syntax btw would be gksudo gedit NOT sudo gedit.

Thanks remoulder for your answer to my inquiry. In regard to your statement as quoted above, I googled about it because it seems I've often come across cautions against using sudo all the time, that it can be dangerous and is bad practice, etc., although I couldn't quite grasp the explained reasoning about it. Anyway, so I came up with this webpage, talking about it: http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/graphicalsudo
The article recommends "good practice is to use gksudo for graphical applications, but sudo for command-line applications". However, that in itself is unclear to me (as a newbie), as actually at this point I don't have an understanding of how I'd determine the difference between a graphical application and a command-line application. Comment please?

[remoulder]

the difference between a graphical application and a command-line application

Basically a graphical application is one that runs on the X desktop in it's own interface window and is run from the menu, e.g. gedit, whereas a command line app has to be entered an a terminal prompt and runs (usually) invisibly, with any text output appearing there. Not the most exact description but I hope you get the idea.

[DrHu]

Why not just copy directly from the web page and paste into the terminal?

One reason you might not want to make use of (copy into somewhere?) web page content that looks like plain text is that it might not be plain text but have included some odd web graphics, parts of a frame or just not be exactly what it looks like
--other than that, copying any part of a web page's data is A-OK, provided you know what you intend to do with it..

• Except of course to avoid copyright infringements

[Roken]

I would add to this more a word of caution than anything. If you are simply copying and pasting commands without an understanding of what they are doing, then wait some time for others to at least have an opportunity to look at the commands before using them. Most Linux forum users will be genuinely helpful, but it's possible for someone unscrupulous to post a set of commands that, if followed blindly, can trash your system. This is especially true of the more cryptic commands that you may be asked to enter. By waiting a little time (an hour or so should be enough on a busy forum) then others will vet the commands and will shout if anything looks wrong.

If someone responds for you to input some cryptic looking commands and no-one else has commented after an hour or so, then they are likely to be safe. Don't just blindly follow instructions as soon as they are posted, though.

[sgull]

I would add to this more a word of caution than anything. If you are simply copying and pasting commands without an understanding of what they are doing, then wait some time for others to at least have an opportunity to look at the commands before using them.

Roken I do appreciate your providing that caution and the suggestion. I won't be shy about asking when uncertain/unclear then. I have a lot to learn yet, and the expertise freely shared by those more knowledgeable here is a great resource. Thanks.