Question

Preface: I am a complete bash noob.

I want to write a simple script to toggle AppleShowAllFiles on my mac.

I am thinking something like this:

#!/bin/bash
#toggle AppleShowAllFiles

if defaults read com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles == TRUE
then
  defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
else 
  defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
fi

killall Finder

That doesn’t seem to be working, but I am sure one of you could bash it out in 1 second flat; please commence bashing and help a lost soul!

thanks.

Answer 1

Here is a fixed version of your script:

#!/bin/bash
#toggle AppleShowAllFiles

current_value=$(defaults read com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles)
if [ $current_value = "TRUE" ]
then
  defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles FALSE
else
  defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles TRUE
fi

killall Finder

The if syntax of your script was a bit…well, iffy. That’s all that needed to be changed.