---
name: "su-to-root"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "menu"
version: "2.1.51"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/su-to-root"
---

# su-to-root(1)

A simple script to give an \`interactive' front-end to su. It can be used in menu entry commands to ask for the root password

## NAME

su-to-root - A simple script to give an \`interactive' front-end to su. It can be used in menu entry commands to ask for the root password

## SYNOPSIS

**su-to-root \[-X\] \[-p \<user\>\] -c \<command\>**

## DESCRIPTION

Most menu entries simply start an editor or a game or whatever. But some menu entries would like to give the user the ability to change important settings in the system, that require root privileges. **su-to-root** can be used to ask for the root password.

## OPTIONS

- \-c \<command\>

  The command to execute as a string. This option is mandatory.

- \-p \<user\>

  The name of the user to change to, instead of root.

- \-X

  The command is a X11 program that does not require a terminal. This is to be used with menu entries that declare needs="X11".

## ENVIRONMENT

- SU\_TO\_ROOT\_X

  Select the su-like program called by *su-to-root -X*. Supported values are *gksu*, *kdesu*, *kde4su*, *ktsuss*, *sux*, *sudo-askpass*, *gksudo* and *kdesudo*. *kde4su* denotes the KDE4 version of **kdesu**. *sudo-askpass* require **ssh-askpass** to be installed.

-

  When this variable is not set **su-to-root** will currently try to use *gksu*, *kdesu*, *kde4su*, *ktsuss*, *sux* and the built-in code, in that order with the exception that under a KDE session, *kdesu* and *kde4su* are preferred over *gksu*.

-

  The exact set of programs to try and their order is subject to change without notice.

- SU\_TO\_ROOT\_SU

  Select the su-like program used in text mode. Supported values are *sudo*, *sux* and *su*, the later being the default.

## FILES

- /etc/su-to-rootrc

  - \~/.su-to-rootrc

  **su-to-root** will source these files at startup in this order. This lets you define and modify the environment variables above without restarting your X session.

## COPYING

**su-to-root** is distributed under the GNU General Public License. (GPL 2.0 or greater).

## AUTHORS

Joost Witteveen \<joostje@debian.org\>

X11 support by Morten Brix Pedersen and Bill Allombert \<ballombe@debian.org\>

## SEE ALSO

[**update-menus**(1)](/update-menus/1.md), [**menufile**(5)](/menufile/5.md), **/usr/share/doc/menu/html**