MacOS plutil command

The MacOS plutil command is a powerful utility for working with property list files. With plutil, users can easily validate, convert, and modify .plist files, which are used to store configuration data. This command-line tool supports various operations, such as checking the syntax of a plist file, converting between binary and XML formats, and even extracting specific values from a plist file. Whether you need to troubleshoot plist files, automate tasks, or simply manipulate configuration settings, the plutil command provides a simple and efficient solution for macOS users.

plutil Syntax:

plutil [option] [parameter]

Options:

Option	Description
-p, —print	Print the property list in a human-readable format.
-lint, —lint	Check the property list file for syntax errors.
-convert format	Convert the property list to the specified format (xml1, binary1, json).
-o output_file	Specify an output file for use with the -convert option.
-extract keyPath	Extract a specific value at the specified keyPath.
-replace keyPath	Replace the value at the specified keyPath with a new value.
-e, —extract	Extract the value associated with a specified key path.
-r, —replace	Replace the value associated with a specified key path.
-e, —erase	Erase the value associated with a specified key path.
-s key value	Set the value associated with the specified key.
-remove key	Remove the entry associated with the specified key.
-help	Display help information for the plutil command.

Parameters:

Parameter	Description
input_file	Specify the input property list file.
keyPath	Specify the key path to extract or replace.
value	Specify the value to set or replace.
format	Specify the format to convert the property list to.
output_file	Specify the output file for the -convert option.

Caution

Exercise caution when using the plutil command, as incorrect usage can modify or corrupt property list files.

plutil Usage:

Convert a plist file to JSON

plutil -convert json file.plist

Converts the file.plist in plist format to JSON format.

Check the syntax of a plist file

plutil -lint file.plist

Checks the syntax of the file.plist to ensure it is valid.

Convert a JSON file to a plist file

plutil -convert xml1 file.json -o file.plist

Converts the file.json in JSON format to a plist file named file.plist.

Display formatted output for a plist file

plutil -p file.plist

Displays the formatted output for the file.plist in a more human-readable form.

plutil Usage:

Tip

When using the plutil command in MacOS, make sure to double-check the options and values to avoid any errors in processing property list files.

How do I check the syntax of a property list file using plutil in MacOS?

To check the syntax of a property list file in MacOS with plutil, use the following command:

plutil -lint path/to/property_list.plist

How do I convert a property list file to XML format using plutil in MacOS?

To convert a property list file to XML format in MacOS using plutil, run the command:

plutil -convert xml1 path/to/property_list.plist

How do I convert a property list file to binary format using plutil in MacOS?

To convert a property list file to binary format in MacOS using plutil, use the command:

plutil -convert binary1 path/to/property_list.plist

How do I extract a value from a property list file using plutil in MacOS?

To extract a specific value from a property list file in MacOS with plutil, execute the command:

plutil -p key path/to/property_list.plist

How do I modify a property list file using plutil in MacOS?

To modify a property list file in MacOS using plutil, use the following command:

plutil -replace key -string 'new_value' path/to/property_list.plist

How do I validate a property list file against a schema using plutil in MacOS?

To validate a property list file against a schema in MacOS with plutil, run the command:

plutil -lint -s schema.plist path/to/property_list.plist

Applications of the plutil command

• Convert property list file formats
• Validate property list files
• Print property list file in different formats
• Modify property list files