[OT] - For Tiger users having problems with iTerm

Julian ''Julik'' Tarkhanov
Sun, 01 May 2005 16:07:37 -0000

I don''t know if it is already known, but iTerm will probably not open
any windows for you when started for the first time in Tiger.

It is already filed as a bug[1], but I found an easy fix.

It looks like it has to do with the new binary plist format Apple has
introduced (iTerm just cannor ead it;s own prefs). To start iTerm,
and keep your bookmarks in order, do the following:

1. Use the new "plutil" command to convert your preferences back to
plain XML and back it up like so:

     $  plutil -convert xml1 ~/Library/Preferences/iTerm.plist  -o  ~/
iTermOld.xml

     This will create a readable copy of the plist in your home dir.
Close iTerm.

2. Delete the plist so that iTerm can create a fresh one

     $  rm ~/Library/Preferences/iTerm.plist

     and start iTerm. Windows should open fine this time, but you
have no bookmarks.

3. Repeat step 1, but now with the new plist, like so:

     $  plutil -convert xml1 ~/Library/Preferences/iTerm.plist  -o  ~/
iTermNew.xml

4. Use any diff tool (I use bbdiff, but you also have FileMerge and,
well, diff :-):

     $ diff ~/iTerm.xml ~/iTermNew.xml

     Right in the beginning you should have one big chunk whith
contains your bookmarks (in a dict). Copy it over to the iTermNew.xml

5. Check that all is fine with the new plist

     $ plutil -lint ~/iTermNew.xml
      >>  /Users<you>/iTermNew.xml: OK

     and install it into your preference directory

     $ plutil -convert binary1   ~/iTermNew.xml -o ~/Library/
Preferences/iTerm.plist

    6. iTerm happily.

[1] http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?
func=detail&aid=1193139&group_id=67789&atid=518973


--
Julian "Julik" Tarkhanov