20 Terminal Commands for Hidden Settings in Leopard

20 Terminal Commands for Hidden Settings in Leopard
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Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:39 pm	Reply and quote this post

Back in March I did a tip listing        15 Terminal Commands for Hidden Mac OS X       Settings. Since Leopard has been released, there       are a whole load of new ones so I thought I'd do       another list.

      In general, these will only work with Leopard. I have       slipped in a few that will work with Tiger, but you       should check out the        old list for commands that will definitely work.


        //<![CDATA[google_ad_client = "pub-0039062403589372";google_ad_width = 336;google_ad_height = 280;google_ad_format = "336x280_as";google_ad_type = "text_image";google_ad_channel = "0667952178";google_color_border = "F7F6F7";google_color_bg = "F7F6F7";google_color_link = "1870D8";google_color_text = "333333";google_color_url = "1870D8";//]]>If you don't already know, here are some quick       instructions of how to use them: You'll find Terminal       in the Utilities folder within the Applications       folder. To carry out any of the following commands       you will need to copy/paste or type in the line of       text then hit enter. Most of the commands change       settings that can't be done through the application       or system preferences.

      For the most part, applications will need restarting       before changes take place. For the Dock and the       Finder, it isn't obvious how to do this. The easiest       way is to type a second command into the Terminal       afterwards. Type "killall Dock" followed by return       for all the Spaces, Stacks and Dock commands.       "killall Finder" followed by return for all the       Finder related ones.

      Spaces

Code:

defaults write com.apple.dock workspaces-edge-delay -float 0.5

      Changes the delay when dragging windows off the edge       of the screen to other spaces. Default value is 0.75.

Code:

defaults write com.apple.dock workspaces-wrap-arrows -boolean NO

Disables the wrap-around when using Control-Arrow keys to changes Spaces. To enable again, repeat with YES at the end.

Stacks

Code:

defaults write       com.apple.dock persistent-others -array-add '{       "tile-data" = { "list-type" = 1; }; "tile-type" =       "recents-tile"; }'

      Creates a Recent Applications stack in your Dock,       that you can change to display other recent items. To       remove it, use the command defaults delete       com.apple.dock persistent-others but be warned, this       will remove all your stacks.

Code:

defaults write com.apple.dock mouse-over-hilte-stack -boolean YES

      Adds a Mouse Over gradient to items in your stacks.       To disable, repeat with NO at the end.

      Dock

Code:

defaults write com.apple.dock no-glass -boolean YES

      Change to 2D Dock. To change back to 3D, prepeat with       NO at the end.

Code:

defaults write com.apple.dock tilesize -int 256

      Allows you to increase the size of the Dock past the       maximum allowed by the slider in System Preferences.       Don't go larger than 256. Use the slider in System       Preferences to shrink the Dock down again.

Code:

defaults write com.apple.dock largesize -int 512

Allows you to increase the Dock magnification past the maximum allowed by the slider in System Preferences. Don't go larger than 512. Use the slider in System Preferences to shrink the Dock down again.

Code:

defaults write com.apple.dock       enable-spring-load-actions-on-all-items -boolean       YES

Makes all items in the Dock spring loaded. For example, hold a file over an application and it will open or come to the front so you can drop the file onto a specific window. Repeat with NO to reverse.

Finder

Code:

defaults write com.apple.finder FXListViewStripes -bool FALSE

      Removes the stripes in list view. Repeat the command       with TRUE to reverse.

Code:

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister       -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain       user

      Resets the "Open With" menu, clearing duplicates. The       command is different from the one in Tiger.

Code:

defaults write com.apple.finder _FXShowPosixPathInTitle -bool YES

Changes the title of a window to its full path. Repeat with NO to reverse.

      Spotlight

Code:

sudo chmod 0 /System/Library/CoreServices/Spotlight.app

      Disables the Spotlight icon. Type "killall Spotlight"       for changes to take effect. To re-enable it, type 755       instead of 0.

      Time Machine

Code:

sudo defaults write       /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.backupd-auto       StartInterval -int 7200

      Changes Time Machine's backup interval. Requires an       administrator password. Default value is 3600       (seconds).

      iCal

Code:

defaults write com.apple.iCal IncludeDebugMenu YES

      Enables the Debug menu in iCal, just like the Safari       one. Repeat with NO at the end to disable.

      Safari

Code:

defaults write com.apple.Safari DebugConfirmTossingUnsubmittedFormText NO

      Disables the warning given when closing a window with       text entered into a form that you haven't submitted.       To bring back the warning, repeat the command with       YES.

      Check out this          article for more Safari 3 tips.

      Menubar
Changing the menubar will require       an administrator password and you will need to       restart the Mac for changes to take       effect.

Code:

sudo defaults write       /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.WindowServer       'EnvironmentVariables' -dict 'CI_NO_BACKGROUND_IMAGE'       1

      Remove translucency in menubar, turns it white.

Code:

sudo defaults write       /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.WindowServer       'EnvironmentVariables' -dict 'CI_NO_BACKGROUND_IMAGE'       0

      Removes translucency in menubar, turns it grey.

Code:

sudo defaults delete       /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.WindowServer       'EnvironmentVariables'

      Reverts back to default translucent menubar.

      All       Applications

Code:

defaults write -g PMPrintingExpandedStateForPrint -bool TRUE

Applications use the expanded Print dialog by default. Similar to the expanded Save dialog in earlier OS versions. Repeat with FALSE to reverse.

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