EditAppInfo.sh (GPL)

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EditAppInfo.sh (GPL)

EditAppInfo.sh makes it easy to edit a Mac OS X application's info property list (Info.plist). You won't have to change directory, change permission, or even find the Info.plist file. Just specify the application name(s) and EditAppInfo.sh will do all that for you. It opens up the Info.plist file in TextEdit. Just save the file after you are done modifying it.

EditAppInfo.sh is a Bourne-Shell script that can be executed in Mac OS X's Terminal program. It is distributed as executable source code under the GNU General Public License. Please see the license agreement elsewhere on this site.

See "Property List Key Reference" in "Related Links" below to see what property items can be changed.

Usage

  EditAppInfo.sh "Application 1" [ . . . "Application N" ]

Examples

$ EditAppInfo.sh Safari

$ EditAppInfo.sh "Remote Desktop Connection"

$ EditAppInfo.sh "OpenOffice.org" "Macfusion"

$ EditAppInfo.sh iChat itunes "Photo Booth"

Attached File: EditAppInfo.sh (1 KB)

Chieh Cheng
Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:22:09 +0000

I have enhanced this EditAppInfo.sh with more capability. This new version, attached below, has the ability to find all applications, not just the user ones in the "/Applications" directory. For example, it can find system applications, like the Finder, that is hidden deep in the Mac OS X core library directories.

In addition to the feature above, this version also makes a backup copy of the original Info.plist file before loading it up for you to edit. The backup copy is stored in the same directory as the original "Info.plist" file, under the new "Info.EditAppInfo" name. If a backup copy doesn't exist already, it will create that file. If it already exists, then it'll proceed to let you edit the "Info.plist" file. Keep in mind it only backs up the original file once, the very first time you use EditAppInfo.sh with an application. It doesn't do it every time you edit the "Info.plist" file.

Attached File: 1 - EditAppInfo.sh (6 KB)

Chieh Cheng
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:23:33 +0000

Cool...what does it do?

sarcast
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:27:21 +0000

It's like editing the registry on windows. sarcast, you should avoid it :)

Chieh, you should look into tying it with Quicksilver.

gnowk
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:26:13 +0000

Did you mean "tying" or "trying"?
What's Quicksilver? And how do you mean by "tying" or "trying" with it?

I read through Quicksilver's web page a few days ago, but I'm not too sure what it is suppose to do and what it is for.

Chieh Cheng
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:57:18 +0000

Tying.

Quicksilver is one of a kind. It's a program launcher with a lot of context sensitive action.

You can also use it to map hot keys. E.g. i have my F1 key mapped to enable the headphone port on my wind

Read this beginner's guide: Hack Attack: A beginner's guide to Quicksilver

Watch this video: Get to Know Quicksilver from Its Maker

For editing Info.plist, you can tie that action for apps in Quicksilver. A lot faster than doing it from the Terminal.

gnowk
Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:13:24 +0000

Note
Apple started code signing all applications on Leopard (10.5). If you use this utility on your applications, those application's digital signature will become invalid, which means they will not have access to Keychain. So it is fine to use on non-password-oriented applications or if you don't use Keychain functions at all. This Keychain access issue only applies to Mac OS X 10.5 and newer. See "Related Links" below for work-arounds.

Chieh Cheng
Sat, 06 Dec 2008 23:17:24 +0000

I found a bug in EditAppInfo.sh that prevents directories containing spaces to be searched. To fix this bug, I'd have to take advantage of arrays in Korn shell (ksh). Therefore, I am not deprecating this EditAppInfo.sh. Instead, I am porting it to ksh as EditAppInfo.ksh. Click the previous link to download the latest version of this utility.

Chieh Cheng
Sat, 27 Dec 2008 10:21:47 +0000

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