
Depending on the location and function of the plist file, they can be in XML format, binary format, and sometimes even json.
MAC EDIT PLIST FILE MAC OS
Plist files contain preferences and features that are relevant to a specific application or piece of software on Mac OS X.
MAC EDIT PLIST FILE HOW TO
I hope you all like this guide How to Convert plist Files to XML or Binary in Mac OS X. I will try my best so that you understand this guide very well. This guide is about the How to Convert plist Files to XML or Binary in Mac OS X. Used as a synonym for the domain NSGlobalDomain. Prints an abbreviated list of possible command formats. Prints a list of possible command formats. Searches for word in the domain names, keys, and values of the user's defaults, and prints the results to standard output. Prints the names of all defaults domains on the user's system. Removes the default named key from domain. Removes all default information for domain. Clicking on the set of up/down arrows next to a class reveals a pop-up menu, from which you can select from one of seven possible classes including:Ī string can contain alphanumeric text, such as an application path (e.g., /Applications/Mail.app/ ), a single-word response that defines the action of a key, or the default position of the application's window (e.g., ' Įrases any previous defaults for and writes the values for the two names into the defaults system. The Class column lists the classes available for each key definition. The Property List column lists the items seen in the tags of a plist 's XML file. For example, if you select Root and hit Option-right arrow, all of the contents of that plist file are shown in the upper display Option-left arrow closes them again.Īs shown in Figure 13-1, there are three columns in the Property List Editor's display: Likewise, Option-right (or left) Arrow respectively opens or closes all of the disclosure triangles in the Property List Editor. If you select a Dictionary or Array item in the Property List column that has a disclosure triangle next to it, you can use -right (or left) arrow to respectively open or close a disclosure triangle. If you click on the disclosure triangle next to Root (this is similar to the List View of the Finder), the keys of the plist are revealed in the first column. When you initially open a plist file, all its elements are hidden inside the Root item. The Property List Editor, shown in Figure 13-1, is a GUI tool that lets you view and edit property list files.Īt their base, every plist has a Root item, which contains all the dictionaries, arrays, keys, and values that define the preferences for an application. You'll need to sift through the output to find hints about the preferences you can set and alter using the Property List Editor or the defaults command, defined in the following sections. Unfortunately, the output from strings doesn't have a discernible structure. To see a listing of available keys and strings for an application, use the strings command in the Terminal, followed by the path to the application's short name as defined by CFBundleExecutable : $ strings /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/MacOS/Dock This executable can be found in an application's /Contents/MacOS directory e.g., the Dock executable is located in /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents/MacOS. Typically, the string for CFBundleExecutable is the short name for the application (e.g., Dock).

The preferences available to an application are defined via the CFBundleExecutable key in the ist file. For example, the ist file for the Dock can be found in /System/Library/CoreServices/Dock.app/Contents. plist file, which is stored in an application's /Contents directory. An application asserts its domain through the CFBundleIdentifier key in its internal Info.

Viewing is one thing, but knowing what you can enter into a plist file requires a bit of investigative work.
MAC EDIT PLIST FILE INSTALL
The Property List Editor is available on your system only after installing the Xcode Tools however, the defaults command is available with the base installation of Mac OS X, and doesn't require you to install any additional software. With the Property List Editor ( /Developer/Applications/Utilities )įrom the command line, using the defaults command There are two ways you can view and edit the contents of an application's preferences file:
