Finder "FIND" for .plist files?????

JonOfArk · 08-03-2008, 09:45 PM

My HD isn't called "Macintosh HD" - I named it MacBookPro when I formatted and partitioned my HD... That being said, when I browse to MacBookPro/Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkConfig.plist - it's NOT THERE??? Is this something Macbook Pro specific? My internet works fine with ethernet and airport/wireless.

Also, when I do a finder search for "com.apple.networkConfig.plist" or even "com.apple", nothing shows in the search - I've tried changing the search options and criteria, but no dice. Does anyone know how to search for specific plist files with the finder search?

silica · 08-03-2008, 10:02 PM

You need to include system files. Check out these hints for using spotlight on Tidbits:

http://db.tidbits.com/article/9283

If you are going to be doing a lot of searching, I highly recommend a program that expands on Spotlight's functions, called HoudahSpot.

hayne · 08-03-2008, 10:07 PM

Why are you looking for that file (com.apple.networkConfig.plist) ?
It doesn't exist on my Mac (10.5.4 MacBook Pro).
What problem are you trying to solve?

As to your search question, I'm don't think Finder's search looks in /Library by default.
I think you'd need to use "Go to Folder" and then search in that folder.

solipsism · 08-03-2008, 10:44 PM

Like hayne, I'm also unclear why you are looking for the file, but I think the file you want is located in Leopard in /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist.

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JonOfArk · 08-03-2008, 11:58 PM

The com.apple.networkConfig.plist file, when removed or renamed, allows you to configure your network settings from the initial wizard that is launched when you first set up your computer.

On Macbooks and iMacs, the file is found in 'Macintosh HD/Library/Preferences/' and I'm basically wondering why my internet and sharing work fine while the plist file is not in its default location, or anywhere on the computer, as far as I can tell - that's why I was trying to search for it with Finder.

David Bourke · 08-04-2008, 05:59 PM

By default, Spotlight is set not to look in certain places on the hard drive. DEVON Technologies offer the free, small, and lightning-fast EasyFind for download. It will search the entire drive, not just the places Apple think you're qualified to.

http://www.devon-technologies.com/pr...are/index.html

tw · 08-04-2008, 07:13 PM

that file exists on my computer, and it has one key "NetworkingConfigured" which is set to an integer value of 1 (probably a boolean true). I suspect it's a legacy rather than a necessary plist.

styrafome · 08-04-2008, 07:21 PM

The easiest way to search prefs is to launch PrefSetter and use its search field. It will only search prefs files, and when you find it and get it open, you can easily inspect and edit it.

hayne · 08-04-2008, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tw


	that file exists on my computer, and it has one key "NetworkingConfigured" which is set to an integer value of 1 (probably a boolean true). I suspect it's a legacy rather than a necessary plist.

It's too late for you (since you presumably opened that file just recently to find out the info you mentioned) but it would be interesting to hear from others who have this file on their system what version of OS X they have and what they get from the following command (copy & paste it into Terminal and press Return):

Code:

ls -lu /Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkConfig.plist

(The "-u" option to 'ls' makes it tell what the date/time of last access to this file was. If this file is no longer used by the system, that date of last access would be far in the past.)

fazstp · 08-04-2008, 09:08 PM

I have the file on my iBook and it contains the same NetworkConfigured boolean.

I tried Hayne's suggestion before opening it;

-rw-r--r-- 1 root admin 71 Aug 1 15:43 /Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkConfig.plist

hayne · 08-04-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fazstp


	I have the file on my iBook and it contains the same NetworkConfigured boolean. I tried Hayne's suggestion before opening it; -rw-r--r-- 1 root admin 71 Aug 1 15:43 /Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkConfig.plist

What version of OS X do you have? On what model of Mac?

fazstp · 08-04-2008, 10:51 PM

900 MHz PowerPC G3 iBook, OS 10.4.11

Also present on a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac, OS 10.4.11

-rw-r--r-- 1 root admin 71 Feb 2 2008 /Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkConfig.plist

08-03-2008, 09:45 PM	#1
JonOfArk Prospect Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2	Finder "FIND" for .plist files????? My HD isn't called "Macintosh HD" - I named it MacBookPro when I formatted and partitioned my HD... That being said, when I browse to MacBookPro/Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkConfig.plist - it's NOT THERE??? Is this something Macbook Pro specific? My internet works fine with ethernet and airport/wireless. Also, when I do a finder search for "com.apple.networkConfig.plist" or even "com.apple", nothing shows in the search - I've tried changing the search options and criteria, but no dice. Does anyone know how to search for specific plist files with the finder search?

08-03-2008, 10:07 PM	#3
hayne Site Admin Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Montreal Posts: 31,941	Why are you looking for that file (com.apple.networkConfig.plist) ? It doesn't exist on my Mac (10.5.4 MacBook Pro). What problem are you trying to solve? As to your search question, I'm don't think Finder's search looks in /Library by default. I think you'd need to use "Go to Folder" and then search in that folder. __________________ hayne.net/macosx.html

08-04-2008, 05:59 PM	#6
David Bourke Prospect Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dublin Posts: 45	By default, Spotlight is set not to look in certain places on the hard drive. DEVON Technologies offer the free, small, and lightning-fast EasyFind for download. It will search the entire drive, not just the places Apple think you're qualified to. http://www.devon-technologies.com/pr...are/index.html __________________ David Bourke – ideation –

08-04-2008, 07:13 PM	#7
tw Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,262	that file exists on my computer, and it has one key "NetworkingConfigured" which is set to an integer value of 1 (probably a boolean true). I suspect it's a legacy rather than a necessary plist. __________________ Philosophy is a battle against the bewitchment of our intelligence by means of language. -LW-

08-04-2008, 09:08 PM	#10
fazstp MVP Join Date: May 2004 Location: Melbourne, AUS Posts: 1,570	I have the file on my iBook and it contains the same NetworkConfigured boolean. I tried Hayne's suggestion before opening it; -rw-r--r-- 1 root admin 71 Aug 1 15:43 /Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkConfig.plist __________________ Inspire you of think the elephant dint Inspire you of think the elephant dint

08-03-2008, 10:02 PM	#2
silica Prospect Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 6	You need to include system files. Check out these hints for using spotlight on Tidbits: http://db.tidbits.com/article/9283 If you are going to be doing a lot of searching, I highly recommend a program that expands on Spotlight's functions, called HoudahSpot.

08-03-2008, 10:44 PM	#4
solipsism MVP Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,949	Like hayne, I'm also unclear why you are looking for the file, but I think the file you want is located in Leopard in /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/preferences.plist.

08-03-2008, 11:58 PM	#5
JonOfArk Prospect Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 2	The com.apple.networkConfig.plist file, when removed or renamed, allows you to configure your network settings from the initial wizard that is launched when you first set up your computer. On Macbooks and iMacs, the file is found in 'Macintosh HD/Library/Preferences/' and I'm basically wondering why my internet and sharing work fine while the plist file is not in its default location, or anywhere on the computer, as far as I can tell - that's why I was trying to search for it with Finder.

08-04-2008, 07:21 PM	#8
styrafome Hall of Famer Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,818	The easiest way to search prefs is to launch PrefSetter and use its search field. It will only search prefs files, and when you find it and get it open, you can easily inspect and edit it.

08-04-2008, 10:51 PM	#12
fazstp MVP Join Date: May 2004 Location: Melbourne, AUS Posts: 1,570	900 MHz PowerPC G3 iBook, OS 10.4.11 Also present on a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac, OS 10.4.11 -rw-r--r-- 1 root admin 71 Feb 2 2008 /Library/Preferences/com.apple.networkConfig.plist __________________ Inspire you of think the elephant dint Inspire you of think the elephant dint Last edited by fazstp; 08-04-2008 at 11:18 PM.

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