Editing plist file using shell script

Question

I have used pkgbuild to create a default Component Property List file. The file looks like:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-     1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<array>
    <dict>
        <key>BundleHasStrictIdentifier</key>
        <true/>
        <key>BundleIsRelocatable</key>
        <true/>
        <key>BundleIsVersionChecked</key>
        <true/>
        <key>BundleOverwriteAction</key>
        <string>upgrade</string>
        <key>RootRelativeBundlePath</key>
        <string>MyApp.app</string>
    </dict>
</array>
</plist>

I want to modify this file by using shell script. I tried using defaults write but it didn't do anything.

What is the way to do it?(For example: I want to set BundleIsRelocatable to false)

score 42 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 05 '14 at 11:32

42

Also:

plutil -replace BundleIsRelocatable -bool false plistfilename.plist

answered Oct 05 '14 at 11:32

jm666

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score 8 · Answer 2 · answered May 22 '17 at 10:17

8

For String use

plutil -replace NameOfProperty -string "yourNewValue" plistFileName.plist

answered May 22 '17 at 10:17

kuzdu

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score 5 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

5

Using PlistBuddy, a simple tutorial HERE.

 /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "Set :BundleIsRelocatable bool false" plistfilename.plist

It can run as ONE command line to update the key/value. I use it to update CFBundleVersion generally, which can be found in this post.

edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

Community

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answered Mar 07 '16 at 05:59

AechoLiu

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score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 13 '17 at 10:23

A bit late, but for the record, you just need to specify the absolute path AND add the .plist extension to the filename. If you are running your script in same directory that the plist file, your case would be translated into:

defaults write $PWD/YourPlistFilename.plist BundleIsRelocatable -bool false

score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Oct 05 '14 at 11:14

3

Use PlistBuddy!

Very simple and straight forward. Example:

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy ComponentPropertyList.plist
Command: Set :0:BundleIsRelocatable false
Command: save
Saving...
Command: exit

Thats it! Now BundleIsRelocatable is false :D

answered Oct 05 '14 at 11:14

hola

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score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Oct 10 '14 at 14:13

2

Using sed:

sed -i '' '/<key>BundleIsRelocatable</{n;s/true/false/;}' file.plist

If the plist is not XML, run plutil -convert xml1 file.plist first.

answered Oct 10 '14 at 14:13

Lri

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score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Jan 30 '15 at 10:35

0

The last response of Phil-CB here should be usefull.

answered Jan 30 '15 at 10:35

psergiocf

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Editing plist file using shell script

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