Name

pl

Synopsis

pl [-input input_binary_file | -output output_binary_file]

Translates XML property list files into the more compact and readable key/value NeXT format. Also translates between this and a serialized binary format, in either direction. XML is read from standard input, NeXT-format data is read from standard input and written to standard output, and serialized binary data is read from and written to files specified with arguments.

Also see the manpage for plutil, which can check a file’s property list syntax and translate directly between XML and binary (but not NeXT) formats.

Options

-input

Specify a serialized binary file as input.

-output

Specify a serialized binary file as output.

Examples

Translate XML property list to NeXT format:

$ cat foo.plist | pl

Translate XML property list to serialized binary format:

$ cat foo.plist | pl | pl -output foo.bin

Translate serialized binary file to NeXT format:

$ pl -input foo.bin

Get Mac OS X Panther in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.