\n: Optimal Configuration

Apr 2, 2010
Archive

Optimal Configuration

Here, mostly for my own future reference, are the various “hidden preferences” I configure on all my Macs. After setting these, you should log out and log in again.

Hidden apps are translucent in the Dock

defaults write com.apple.Dock showhidden -bool YES

Remove the delay before an auto-hiding Dock appears

defaults write com.apple.Dock autohide-delay -float 0 && killall Dock

Hide the iTunes Ping dropdowns

defaults write com.apple.iTunes hide-ping-dropdown -bool YES

Restore the old iTunes store shortcut arrows

defaults write com.apple.iTunes show-store-link-arrows -bool YES

iTunes shortcut arrows don’t open the iTunes store

defaults write com.apple.iTunes invertStoreLinks -bool YES

Save dialogs default to expanded view

defaults write -g NSNavPanelExpandedStateForSaveMode -bool TRUE

Disable “Are you sure you want to open?” warning dialogs

defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices LSQuarantine -bool NO

Alternatively, create ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.DownloadAssessment.plist, with the following contents, to disable the quarantine flag for all future downloads:

<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN"
   "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
  <dict>
    <key>LSRiskCategoryNeutral</key>
    <dict>
      <key>LSRiskCategoryContentTypes</key>
      <array>
        <string>public.item</string>
      </array>
    </dict>
  </dict>
</plist>

Prevent itms:// links from opening iTunes

Using RCDefaultApp, disable the itms://, itunes://, itmss:// URLs, and the itms extension.

Make Application Exposé only show windows from the current Space

defaults write com.apple.dock wvous-show-windows-in-other-spaces -bool FALSE

Finder won’t warn you about extension changes

defaults write com.apple.finder FXEnableExtensionChangeWarning -bool false
killall Finder

App Store doesn’t install new apps to Dock

defaults write com.apple.appstore FRDebugShowInstallProgress -bool NO

Set Twitter for Mac to use “RT” for “quote tweet”

defaults write com.twitter.twitter-mac QuoteTweetSyntax '"RT @{USERNAME}: {TEXT}"'

Disable window shadow in screenshots

defaults write com.apple.screencapture disable-shadow -bool true
killall SystemUIServer

Disable the spell checker system-wide

In Lion:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSAutomaticSpellingCorrectionEnabled -bool NO

In Snow Leopard:

sudo mv /System/Library/Services/AppleSpell.service/Contents/Resources \
    /System/Library/Services/AppleSpell.service/Contents/Resources.disabled

Disable Lion’s alphabetic key press-and-hold

defaults write -g ApplePressAndHoldEnabled -bool false

(May require a restart)

Add a “follow up” button to Mail

http://www.cs.unc.edu/~welch/MailFollowup/

Make Mail warn you if you mention an attachment but haven’t attached one

http://eaganj.free.fr/code/mail-plugin/

\n — @adurdin is thinking aloud

Optimal Configuration