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PrefEditTasks: Modifying a preference setting

You can use PrefEdit to modify the raw preference settings of any application which is compliant with the software design guidelines of Mac OS X. Perform the following steps to access and change a setting:

  1. It is recommended to ensure that the application whose preference settings you are going to access is currently not running. This way that application cannot accidentally overwrite your changes when it happens to save its preferences after you have modified them.
  2. In PrefEdit, locate the window Preferences Database - Domain Overview. If it is not displayed, you can open it using the menu item Window > Show Domain Overview, or by pressing ⌘+1.
  3. Make sure the two pop-up menus at the top of the window are set to select the correct domain area. If you don't know the correct area, set them to User-specific and system-wide settings - for any and this computer to display all domains known in the preferences database.
  4. Find the preferences domain you are going to change in the table. If you don't know the correct domain name, drag the application whose settings you like to change into the field …or application. PrefEdit will then automatically search for the correct domain name.
  5. Double-click the line with the correct domain name in the table. A window with all current settings will open.
  6. Locate the setting you like to change in the table. You can change its type and value. It is also possible to add or remove items, using the respective buttons.
  7. Apply your changes by pressing the button Apply or by pressing ⌘+S.

To see the effect of your changes, you'll have to launch (or re-launch) the affected application. You can use the button Launch at the top of the preference settings window to do that.

Further Information: Editing preference settings