Plist Editor Pro: Complete Feature Overview and Review
What it is
Plist Editor Pro is a macOS application for creating, viewing, and editing Apple Property List (.plist) files used by macOS and iOS apps. It targets developers, sysadmins, and power users who need a graphical, user-friendly plist editor.
Key features
- Visual tree editor: Display and edit nested dictionaries, arrays, strings, numbers, booleans, dates, and data in a hierarchical view.
- Raw XML/JSON view: Toggle between visual mode and raw XML or JSON representations for manual edits or copy/paste.
- Batch editing: Apply the same change across multiple plist files (rename keys, change values, set types).
- Search & replace: Recursive search with support for regex and replace across keys and values.
- Validation: Detect malformed plists and offer automated fixes or conversion to valid formats.
- Import/export: Convert plist to/from JSON, XML, and binary plist formats; export selections.
- Undo/redo and history: Multi-level undo/redo and a change history panel to review edits.
- Permissions & codesigning info: View file permissions and embedded code-signing metadata where applicable.
- Integration: Open files from Finder, Xcode, or via drag-and-drop; support for recent files and templates.
- Scripting/automation: AppleScript or CLI support for batch workflows (varies by version).
Usability
- Intuitive for users familiar with plist structures; tree view makes complex nested data easy to navigate.
- Raw view useful for developers who prefer direct XML/JSON editing.
- Batch and search tools significantly speed up repetitive tasks.
Performance and reliability
- Handles large plist files well; binary/XML conversions are fast.
- Validation minimizes risk of introducing malformed files that would break apps or system configurations.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Clear visual interface for complex structures | Some advanced features (scripting/CLI) may require separate configuration |
| Supports multiple plist formats and conversions | Occasional UI quirks reported on major macOS updates |
| Powerful search/replace and batch editing | Licensing is paid — free alternatives exist |
| Validation reduces error risk | Not available on non‑macOS platforms |
Alternatives
- Xcode’s built-in plist editor (free, integrated)
- PlistEdit Pro (another paid macOS tool)
- plistutil / plutil (command-line tools bundled with macOS)
- Text editors with plist plugins (VS Code, Sublime Text)
Verdict
Plist Editor Pro is a strong choice for macOS users who regularly edit .plist files and want a reliable GUI tool with powerful batch and validation features. For occasional edits, Xcode or command-line tools may suffice; for heavy or automated workflows, evaluate the app’s scripting/CLI capabilities before purchasing.
Tips
- Always back up plist files before bulk changes.
- Use validation and raw XML view to confirm critical format-sensitive edits.
- Prefer binary plist when working with system files that expect that format.
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