[MlMt] Plist confusion: How can I convert my binary plist files into the current default JSON-like format?

[leo]

On 30 Jul 2025, at 23:39, Bill Cole wrote:

> On 2025-07-30 at 08:34:42 UTC-0400 (Wed, 30 Jul 2025 08:34:42 -0400)
> Bill Cole <mailmate at lists.freron.com>
> is rumored to have said:
>
>> On 2025-07-29 at 20:54:13 UTC-0400 (Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:54:13 +1000)
>> leo <mailmate at lists.freron.com>
>> is rumored to have said:
> [...]
>>> **How can I convert my binary plist files into the JSON-like format 
>>> the default files use?**
>>
>> As far as I know, there is no way. MailMate does understand the 
>> 'xml1' format produced by plutil.
>
> HOWEVER: the 'defaults' tool still emits the old NeXT plist format. It 
> may be possible to convert a file by importing it with defaults and 
> then reading it back out, but I have not tried it.

Thanks a lot, Bill. Great idea! And it works perfectly.

I’ve tested it, do the following:

1. `defaults import your-made-up-domain 
/path/to/your/xml1-property-file.plist`
2. `defaults read your-made-up-domain > new-NeXT-property-file.plist`
3. `defaults delete your-made-up-domain`

Then, `new-NeXT-property-file.plist` contains your MailMate keybindings 
in the old, but for me new, default format **which is understood by 
MailMate**.

>
> -- 
>  Bill Cole
>  bill at scconsult.com or billcole at apache.org
>  (AKA @grumpybozo at toad.social and many *@billmail.scconsult.com 
> addresses)
>  Not Currently Available For Hire
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