[SOLVED] How to read a specific value in PLIST file in terminal

Issue

I'm trying to access a specific property in a plist file on my MAC OS, but the name of that property has a space in it and I cannot access it.

here is the request that I try but it returns me all SpacesDisplayConfiguration:

$defaults read com.apple.spaces SpacesDisplayConfiguration Space\ Properties

I think that this is just a syntax error, but I can't find the issue.

Solution

If you like doing ugly things, you could do something really ugly like this:

defaults read com.apple.spaces > /tmp/$$.plist
/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'print :SpacesDisplayConfiguration:Space\ Properties' /tmp/$$.plist

Though this is maybe slightly less ugly:

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'print SpacesDisplayConfiguration:Space\ Properties' $HOME/Library/Preferences/com.apple.spaces.plist

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The following attempts don't work, and if anyone knows why they can maybe ping me - I presume it has to do with bash process substitutions not being seekable.

defaults read com.apple.spaces | /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'print :SpacesDisplayConfiguration:Space\ Properties' /dev/stdin

defaults read com.apple.spaces | /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c 'print :SpacesDisplayConfiguration:Space\ Properties' -

/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "print" <(defaults read com.apple.spaces)

Answered By - Mark Setchell

Answer Checked By - Pedro (WPSolving Volunteer)