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defaults

defaults allows users to read, write, and delete Mac OS X user defaults from a command-line shell.

Examples

Set some boolean values

defaults write NSGlobalDomain     NSAutomaticQuoteSubstitutionEnabled -bool false
defaults write NSGlobalDomain     NSAutomaticDashSubstitutionEnabled  -bool false
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit SmartQuotes                         -bool false
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit SmartDashes                         -bool false

Add a value (an array) to a dict

FILENAME="${HOME}/Library/Preferences/com.googlecode.iterm2.plist"
defaults write "${FILENAME}" GlobalKeyMap -dict-add 0xf703-0x280000 '{ Action = 10; Text = f; }'
defaults write "${FILENAME}" GlobalKeyMap -dict-add 0xf702-0x280000 '{ Action = 10; Text = b; }'