How to read OSX .plist files from Java?

Question

How to read OSX .plist files from Java?

Answer 1

Imho running a commandline tool from Java is not quite the "best way to do the job".

There are several much better ways to deal with binary plist in JAVA: That one I prefere is an usefull little project by Daniel Dreibrodt at: google project hosting

You can also use Apache Commons Configuration (which API is supporting the Property List format). More information about the history of the .plist-format on OSX (which version introduced which format) I wrote up on my blog

Update: There is a new project hosted at source forge called Property List Library, that shall be able to read AND write .plist- I have not tested it, but it sounds interesting.

Answer 2

I guess you refer to the plist format used on Mac starting with Mac OS X (and not the NeXTSTEP or GNUstep format).

1. Determine if the file is in XML or binary format
2. If in binary format use the plutil command-line-utility to convert file to xml format
3. Now you have the file in xml format, use any java-xml-library to handle the plist

Answer 3

You can use this library:

Property List Library (SourceForge)

It will read property list files to objects and vice versa.

Answer 4

Simplified java XML/plist reading.

Answer 5

These days the Java Preferences API on a Mac automatically uses plist files and they are in binary format. You might be able to read the plist automatically simply by reading the preferences at the "node".

I hope that helps.