Tristian Author

Level 1

34 points

Show hidden files won't stick

Hi,

I'm setting up an i7 Mac Mini with Mavericks and trying to show hidden files. Using Terminal I do the old

$ defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE

$ killall Finder

But hidden files are still invisible.

When I try to read back it reports:

The domain/default pair of ([...]com.apple.finder, AppleShowAllFiles) does not exist

I've opened the plist up in XCode and every time I add it there it disappears as soon as I issue the `killall Finder` command.

Anybody know why this might be?

Posted on Jan 5, 2014 11:45 AM

26 replies

Tristian Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 8, 2014 6:55 AM in response to Linc Davis

Hi Linc,

Thanks again for info. Applied both step 1 and 2 but still cannot see hidden files.

Tristian Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 8, 2014 7:02 AM in response to baltwo

Hi baltwo,

Before I issue the killall command it reads as 1. After the killall it is not found.

Linc Davis

Level 10

210,701 points

Jan 8, 2014 8:48 AM in response to Tristian

I ran into a case like this recently:

Safari not working with iCloud page

Eventually it blew over. Maybe you can figure out why. I can't.

baltwo

Level 9

62,466 points

Jan 8, 2014 11:34 AM in response to Tristian

Tristian wrote:

Before I issue the killall command it reads as 1. After the killall it is not found.

Then, move the com.apple.finder.plist to the Desktop, restart, and see if the problem persists.

Tristian Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 8, 2014 1:30 PM in response to baltwo

Yes, I've tried that too. I also tried using Onyx to clear caches, add/edit plist, restart. I'm wondering if it's a problem relating to the caching of preference files. It would be nice to reset/clear these via terminal but I've not found much on it.

Mabe it's time to burn this user account and start again.

Tristian Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 8, 2014 1:43 PM in response to Tristian

OK success.

Lanuch Activity Monitor
find 'cfprefsd'
Force quit 'cfprefsd'
In Terminal: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE && killall Finder

And they stick.

I don't know know if the 'AppleShowAllFiles' need to be applied before cfprefsd starts back up again or if it started as a result of stting 'AppleShowAllFiles'. I also don't know if force quiting cfprefsd does any damage to the system.

Maybe there's a more elegeant way to address this.

More info on cfprefsd: http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20130908042828630

Linc Davis

Level 10

210,701 points

Jan 8, 2014 2:07 PM in response to Tristian

Very good. I can't reproduce the issue, but if it comes up again I'll credit you with the solution.

baltwo

Level 9

62,466 points

Jan 8, 2014 3:11 PM in response to Tristian

Nice find. Following the snake through developer docs yields this one https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/releasenotes/DataManagement/RN-CoreFound ationOlderNotes/ which states:

CFPreferences Plist Files

The on-disk property list files used by CFPreferences have always been a private implementation detail, but in previous releases, directly modifying them has mostly worked (though there are some potential data-loss issues for applications that do so, even on previous systems). In 10.8 and later, the CFPreferences agent process (cfprefsd) will cache information from these files and asynchronously write to them. This means that directly modifying plist files is unlikely to have the expected results (new settings will not necessarily be read, and may even be overwritten). You should use the NSUserDefaults or CFPreferences APIs, or the defaults(1) command, to interact with the preferences system.

Tristian Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 8, 2014 11:55 PM in response to baltwo

That last bit is interesting "defaults(1) command, to interact with the preferences system." because thats what was being used or have I misunderstood that.

Also I have two systems here running Mavericks, the older one responds as expected when using defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -bool TRUE but its this new(er) machine that's been having the trouble. It also seems to be this (may main) user account thats affected.

Tristian Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 8, 2014 11:56 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thank you

Tristian Author

Level 1

34 points

Jan 9, 2014 2:45 AM in response to Tristian

Just as a bit more information...

I wanted to add QucikLook text selection:

defaults write com.apple.finder QLEnableTextSelection -bool true; killall Finder

but it wouldn't stick until I again force quit cfprefsd. Obviously for this particular setup I'm going to have to do that everytime. It's just odd that it's different to my other mac running the same OS. I wonder if there is switch somewhere that changes the behaviour.

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Show hidden files won't stick