what file contains defaults info?

Question

Rolomoto Author

Level 1

13 points

what file contains defaults info?

If I type "defaults read com.apple.TextEdit" into terminal I get some defaults e.g.

NSFixedPitchFont = "Arial-Black";

NSFixedPitchFontSize = 14;

NSFont = "Arial-Black";

NSFontPanelAttributes = "1, 2";

NSFontPanelPreviewHeight = 0;

NSFontSize = 14;

NSNavLastRootDirectory = "~/Desktop";

The only file I can find with com.apple.TextEdit in the name is com.apple.TextEdit.plist but when I open that file it does not contain the above defaults (it may have some but it doesn't have most of them, it's a long file with a lot of code in it). Where are they located?

Thanks

Posted on Mar 8, 2023 11:09 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Mar 8, 2023 1:34 PM in response to Rolomoto

Are you looking in the hidden User's Library?

/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TextEdit.plist

Or...

~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TextEdit.plist

~ tilde indicates your user library folder

Apple hid the Users' Library folders...

Method 1:

From the Finder, select the Go menu at top of the screen, and choose Go to Folder.
In the window that opens, enter ~/Library, and click Go.

Method 2:

Go to the Finder (or desktop).
Hold the Option key on your keyboard, and click the Go menu at the top of the screen.
With the Go menu open, you'll notice that pressing and releasing Option will display or hide the Library choice in this menu.

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Answer 2

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Mar 8, 2023 2:18 PM in response to Rolomoto

There plenty other places, like...

~Library/Containers/com.apple.TextEdit/Data/Library/Preferences/com.apple.TextEdit.plist

~Library/Containers/com.apple.TextEdit/Data/Library/Autosave Information/com.apple.TextEdit.plist

Find Any File...

http://apps.tempel.org/FindAnyFile/index.php

Hold Option or alt key when selecting Find to Find All.

Find all for Name> Contains... com.apple.TextEdit.plist

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Answer 3

Rolomoto Author

Level 1

13 points

Mar 8, 2023 2:50 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks! It was in ~Library/Containers/com.apple.TextEdit/Data/....

did you use that app to find those locations? When I search for com.apple.TextEdit in finder I get one result only.

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Answer 4

Rolomoto Author

Level 1

13 points

Mar 8, 2023 1:23 PM in response to MartinR

I would like to be able to edit these defaults in an editor not in the terminal.

I am using VS code which can open the plist file but I don't see the above defaults in the file, which makes me wonder if they are in another file.

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,253 points

Mar 8, 2023 2:56 PM in response to Rolomoto

Great news my friend, yes, that is the advantage of that app... ever need to really find something use it & it's Fid All with Option key held down... it's saved me like 7 or 8 lifetimes of hunting things down!

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