Preferences file in Tiger

FROM : Pradeep Kumar
DATE : Sun May 01 10:50:36 2005

Hi

The preferences file (files in ~/Library/Preferences) are in a very cryptic format when opened in
TextEdit. In Panther and below, the file was a normal xml file. But now this file can be read
only in Property List Editor. What has actually happeneded?

I have this code that removes an item from the dock and quits it so that the changes are
immediately reflected. This worked fine till Panther. But in Tiger it stopped working. However
running it multiple times will eventually remove the item from the Dock. I have tried various
calls like CFPreferencesAppSynchronize etc, but no avail. Has anyone faced this problem yet.
What's the solution for this?

Exactly what has changed in the preferences file? Is it safe to read the com.apple.dock.plist file
and then make modifications and write it back?

Thanks
Prady


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prady