Filed under: Productivity, Terminal Tips, Leopard
Using Data Detectors in Leopard's iChat
I'm always, well, tickled by the things that can happen when you use Terminal commands that begin with "defaults write" -- thus changing the preferences for applications, the Finder, and more, often in ways that you can't accomplish via GUI pref settings. I also get a certain warmness from Leopard's Data Detectors, but I have to confess I rarely use them. It's fun to watch the things that Mail can pick up on, and I've often tested to see what exactly iCal will make of it, but I guess some people just get better emails than I do. Strangely, I do get dates and info via instant messaging on a more regular basis.
You can enable Data Detectors in iChat with one simple command in Terminal:
defaults write com.apple.iChat EnableDataDetectors 1
You can disable it using the same command, but change the '1' to a '0.' Now you get the fun job of calling your closest Mac-using relative and explaining Terminal so they can use a feature that Apple hid from public view for what I can only assume were valid reasons. I hope your aunt has her screen-sharing figured out.
[via Mac OS X Hints]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Zoli said 2:17PM on 1-05-2008
Would this work with safari if you used:
defaults write com.apple.Safari EnableDataDetectors 1
??
Reply
Ed said 3:22PM on 1-05-2008
Here's a workaround if you want to go to the trouble, but I think it kind of defeats the purpose of Data Detectors.
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20071108065202610&query=data%2Bdetectors
Brett Terpstra said 2:37PM on 1-05-2008
I'm afraid not. I'm definitely hoping for more wide-spread support for the technology soon.
Reply
Ed said 3:17PM on 1-05-2008
Wasn't this a hint on MacOSXHints, like, 2 months ago?
Reply
Ed said 3:23PM on 1-05-2008
Never mind, it was only 2 weeks ago.
jay said 1:39PM on 1-07-2008
Sometimes the iChat one just stops working. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason.
Reply
Brett Terpstra said 2:18PM on 1-07-2008
That would probably be the "valid reason" I was hoping for :).
blargle said 1:57AM on 1-08-2008
...and a reason that they made painfully clear on MacOSXHints.com already.