Error Updating plist file using bash

Question

I'm trying to update a plist file using bash. For some strings I can update the plist file, but for some strings I get an error. For eg

defaults write '/Users/test/Desktop/myPlist'  'My Key' "[My Value]"

throws an error

2011-08-10 18:49:36.208 defaults[17287:903] Could not parse: [My Value].
Try single-quoting it.

Looks like the characters '[' and ']' seem to be throwing it off. How to make this work with the string "[My Value]"?

Wuffers · Answer 1 · 2011-08-11 02:12:53Z

up vote 1 down vote

You could try single-quoting it, like this:

defaults write '/Users/test/Desktop/myPlist'  'My Key' "\"[My Value]\""

edited Aug 11 '11 at 2:12

answered Aug 11 '11 at 1:55

Wuffers
7,45133875

	2011-08-10 19:05:44.531 defaults[17323:903] Could not parse: \'[My Value]\'. Try single-quoting it. Didnt work :( – smokinguns Aug 11 '11 at 2:02
	This seemed to work: defaults write '/Users/test/Desktop/myPlist' 'My Key' "\"[My Value]\"" Wonder why? – smokinguns Aug 11 '11 at 2:04
	Alright, will edit my answer. – Wuffers Aug 11 '11 at 2:12

1 Answer