Add Applications folder to dock using terminal. MacOS

Question

I'm trying to use AddDockMCXMyApplicationsFolder using terminal commands however i cannot figure out how to syntax it. Help is much appreciated

do shell script "defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-apps -array '<dict><key>Dock Payload</key><dict><key>MCXDockSpecialFolders</key><array><string>AddDockMCXMyApplicationsFolder</string></array><key>PayloadDescription</key><dict><key>_CFURLString</key><string>AddDockMCXMyApplicationsFolder</string><key>_CFURLStringType</key><integer>0</integer></dict></dict></dict></dict>'; killall Dock"

This is what I have so far and it does not work im assuming cause of syntax and other issues. Help is appreciated.

Answer 1

You can directly use the defaults command. I'm using persistent-others , but you can add it as persistent-apps . See theDock reference for details.

I'm formatting the input with \ for reliability, and it should work, but you can also inline it.

defaults write com.apple.dock persistent-others -array-add "\
<dict>\
  <key>tile-data</key>\
    <dict>\
      <key>file-data</key>\
        <dict>\
          <key>_CFURLString</key> <string>file:///Applications/</string>\
          <key>_CFURLStringType</key> <integer>15</integer>\
        </dict>\

      <key>file-type</key> <integer>2</integer>\
      <key>showas</key> <integer>1</integer>\
    </dict>\

  <key>tile-type</key> <string>directory-tile</string>\
</dict>"

You also need to restart the Dock:

killall Dock