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first time seeing this after showing hidden files. Any ideas?

defaults writes defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Command line interface to a user's defaults.

Syntax:


'defaults' [-currentHost | -host <hostname>] followed by one of the following:


read shows all defaults

read <domain> shows defaults for given domain

read <domain> <key> shows defaults for given domain, key


read-type <domain> <key> shows the type for the given domain, key


write <domain> <domain_rep> writes domain (overwrites existing)

write <domain> <key> <value> writes key for domain


rename <domain> <old_key> <new_key> renames old_key to new_key


delete <domain> deletes domain

delete <domain> <key> deletes key in domain


import <domain> <path to plist> writes all of the keys in path to domain

export <domain> <path to plist> saves domain as a binary plist to path

domains lists all domains

find <word> lists all entries containing word

help print this help


<domain> is ( <domain_name> | -app <application_name> | -globalDomain )

or a path to a file omitting the '.plist' extension


<value> is one of:

<value_rep>

-string <string_value>

-data <hex_digits>

-int[eger] <integer_value>

-float <floating-point_value>

-bool[ean] (true | false | yes | no)

-date <date_rep>

-array <value1> <value2> ...

-array-add <value1> <value2> ...

-dict <key1> <value1> <key2> <value2> ...

-dict-add <key1> <value1> ...

Posted on May 4, 2016 8:37 AM

Reply
3 replies

May 4, 2016 8:56 AM in response to maurtaza1932

Ok, so you have uncovered the help for the impenetrable "defaults" command.


In my opinion, that so-called help does not make the defaults command mechanism any less impenetrable.


If you have ANY other mechanism for making settings changes that does not rely on this awful command, I suggest you use it instead. Examples include:


• TinkerTool, an well-behaved little Utility that gives GUI access to (sometimes hidden) Preferences available in many parts of the system, and also allows you the reset all to defaults in one stroke.


• Plist editor, which can be used automatically when Xcode is installed, or can be cobbled up from a few key components if you do not wish to have all of Xcode.

first time seeing this after showing hidden files. Any ideas?

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