Can I open a file as root by just using the right click menu

Solution 1:

You need the admin extension

$ apt-cache search nautilus | grep admin
nautilus-admin - Extension for Nautilus to do administrative operations

Install it with sudo apt-get install nautilus-admin

Solution 2:

I tested the solution from here, and it works fine (running 14.04/nautilus).

To not post a link-only answer:

1. install gksu

   sudo apt-get install gksu
   

2. Navigate to ~/.local/share/nautilus/scripts

3. Create and open an empty file, name it open-as-administrator, paste the script below:

   #!/bin/bash
   #
   # this code will determine exactly the path and the type of object,
   # then it will decide use gedit or nautilus to open it by ROOT permission
   #
   # Determine the path
   if [ -e -n $1 ]; then
   obj="$NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_SELECTED_FILE_PATHS"
   else
   base="`echo $NAUTILUS_SCRIPT_CURRENT_URI | cut -d'/' -f3- | sed 's/%20/ /g'`"
   obj="$base/${1##*/}"
   fi
   # Determine the type and run as ROOT
   if [ -f "$obj" ]; then
   gksu gedit "$obj"
   elif [ -d "$obj" ]; then
   gksu nautilus "$obj"
   fi
   
   exit 0
   

4. Make the script executable

5. Either log out and back in, or run:

   nautilus -q
   

AGAIN: the script is not mine! found it on http://ubuntuhandbook.org