Shell scripting help please!

[~pcwiz]

Hi all,

 

For my app, OSx86 Tools, there is a Boot Editor function that launches a shell script in Terminal with prompts to modify your com.apple.boot.plist file with different flags. Here is the script:

 

#!/bin/sh
# Script by eddie11c
echo "This will create a new Boot.plist. The old one will be backed up as com.apple.Boot.plist.orig"
		cp -Rf "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist" "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.orig.plist"
		pl=$( cat "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist" | sed -n 8p | sed 's_<string>__' | sed 's_</string>__' )
		cT=$( cat "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist" | sed -n 10p | sed 's_<string>__' | sed 's_</string>__' )
		Graph=$( cat "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist" | sed -n 14p | sed 's_<string>__' | sed 's_</string>__' )
		EF=$( cat "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist" | sed -n 16p | sed 's_<string>__' | sed 's_</string>__' )
		echo "Current Kernel Flags: ${pl}"
		echo "Please type all kernel flags you wish to use, this will replace any currently there. Be sure to format correctly with a space between each.(Example: -v -x)"
		read Num1
		echo "Do you want Quiet Boot?(y/n) This will ignore the Timeout option and Kernel Flag -v."
		read Num4
		while [[ ${Num4} != "n" && ${Num4} != "y" ]]
		do
			echo "Invalid choice, please enter y for yes or n for no. Do you want Quiet Boot?(y/n)"
			read Num4
		done
		echo "Please enter how many seconds you wish the Timeout to be."
		read Num2
		echo "If you want to set Graphics Mode, please enter resolution/depth. Example:1280x1024x32. To turn off leave blank."
		read Num5
		echo "Please enter your EFI string. Leave blank to use none."
		read Num3
		cd /Library/Application\ Support/OSx86\ Tool
		if [[ ${Num4} = "y" ]]; then
			QB="yes"
			echo "Quiet Boot turned on."
			Num2=""
			Num6=$( echo ${Num1} | sed 's/-v //' | sed 's/-v//')
		else
			QB=""
			Num6=${Num1}
		fi
		plis=$( cat test.txt | sed "s/KF/${Num6}/" | sed "s/QB/${QB}/" | sed "s/GM/${Num5}/" |sed "s/SE/${Num2}/" | sed "s/EF/${Num3}/" > test1.txt )
		if [[ ${Num3} = "" ]]; then
			cat test1.txt | sed -e 15,16d > test2.txt
		else
			cp test1.txt test2.txt
		fi
		if [[ ${Num5} = "" ]];then
			cat test2.txt | sed -e 13,14d > test3.txt
		else
			cp test2.txt test3.txt
		fi
		if [[ ${Num4} = "n" ]]; then
			cat test3.txt | sed -e 11,12d > test4.txt
		else
			cp test3.txt test4.txt
		fi
		if [[ ${QB} = "yes" ]]; then
			cat test4.txt | sed -e 9,10d > test5.txt
		else
			cp test4.txt test5.txt
		fi
		echo "Kernel Flags: ${Num6}"
		echo "Timeout: ${Num2}"
		echo "Graphics Mode: ${Num5}"
		echo "EFI string: ${Num3}"
		cp "test5.txt" "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist"
		chown -R root:admin "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist"
		chmod -R 644 "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist"
		plist=$( cat "/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.Boot.plist" )
		echo ""
		echo "Here is your new com.apple.Boot.plist file:"
		echo ""
		echo "${plist}"
		rm -Rf "test1.txt"
		rm -Rf "test2.txt"
		rm -Rf "test3.txt"
		rm -Rf "test4.txt"
		rm -Rf "test5.txt"
		exit 0

 

As you can see, eddie11c wrote the script, but he is currently busy and doesn't have the time to fix it up so I ask the community's shell scripting gurus to help fix this. This is the only thing preventing OSx86 Tools from going to final release. There are two problems that need to be fixed with this:

 

1) In the "Please enter your EFI string. Leave blank to use none." prompt, you can enter the string to be inserted into the com.apple.boot.plist file. The problem is, the characters cut off at I think 1023 characters, so only part of the EFI string gets inputted. This is the first thing that needs to be fixed.

 

2) After every prompt, the script saves and makes the modifications to the com.apple.boot.plist file. This is dangerous since if you quit the script in the middle of the wizard it will corrupt the plist. This needs to be fixed so that all the modifications are made at the end, after a confirmation prompt.

 

If anyone could help with either of those two, it would be much appreciated!

[ColdStart]

I'll take a try at both problems.

A likely fix for the first problem would be to use an alternative scripting language that is guaranteed to be installed, such as Perl (used in many official Apple installers.)

I'll probably have a finished script by tomorrow.

[~pcwiz]

Thanks ColdStart, the help is much appreciated! The type of script doesn't really matter as long as it can be executed from within Terminal

[ColdStart]

All finished. I sent you a link to the code via PM.

If you require any changes please let me know!

[~pcwiz]

Thanks a ton ColdStart, it works great

 

EDIT: One small bug I found while testing, I pmed you about it