Error: Failed to parse WindowServer's preferences #92

detlefs · 2021-01-20T12:25:15Z

Running the tool I get the following output:

sudo ./ddcctl -d 1 -i 17                                                                                                                             
D: CGDisplay 51EAD488-736E-344F-3D19-FC1626C9B248 dispID(#1) (3440x1440 0°) 109.00 DPI
I: found 1 external display
E: Failed to parse WindowServer's preferences! (/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist)
I: polling EDID for #1 (ID 1 => (null))
E: Failed to poll display!

I'm using a M1 Mac mini with macOS Big Sur (11.1)
I downloaded the latest release of the tool.

I couldn't find a file /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist on my system, but a file /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist.
Maybe the name was changed for Big Sur?

Running it with -h option, I get the following result:

sudo ./ddcctl -h                                                                                                                                     
D: CGDisplay 51EAD488-736E-344F-3D19-FC1626C9B248 dispID(#1) (3440x1440 0°) 109.00 DPI
I: found 1 external display
2021-01-20 11:28:45.833 ddcctl[27476:1447428] ddcctl 0.1x - Usage:
...

The text was updated successfully, but these errors were encountered:

madebyfabian · 2021-02-06T15:59:15Z

Same issue here on Mac Mini M1 2020, MacOS Big Sur 11.1.

I'm not a native development expert, but for me, it looks like the reason for this is this hardcoded string in there:

ddcctl/src/ddcctl.m

Line 50 in 72c1f34

NSString *wsPrefs = @"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist";

wich either should be a system variable, or, if no system variable exists, it should search check which macos version is being used and then decide which path it should take.

I will try to build it my own and if it works, I post the results in here.

kmplngj · 2021-02-07T15:53:44Z

Is this fixable without a new release version?

detlefs · 2021-02-10T08:39:33Z

It seems to be not only the filename. It seems that com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist doesn't contain the structure/values required by the function. There is no DisplayID or IODisplayLocation in my file.
I think it's necessary to find a new way to determine the display device location value

tslater · 2021-05-12T18:59:21Z

In line with what you said, @detlefs, I symlinked the plist file to the old path and now I'm getting this error:

D: CGDisplay 166D886F-5A17-0E35-0857-D6964E3302DB dispID(#2) (3840x2160 0°) 139.00 DPI
I: found 1 external display
2021-05-12 12:55:43.827 ddcctl[32394:966897] -[NSTaggedPointerString countByEnumeratingWithState:objects:count:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0xb3e44e1fb7bdd192
2021-05-12 12:55:43.827 ddcctl[32394:966897] *** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '-[NSTaggedPointerString countByEnumeratingWithState:objects:count:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0xb3e44e1fb7bdd192'
*** First throw call stack:
(
	0   CoreFoundation                      0x000000018640e320 __exceptionPreprocess + 240
	1   libobjc.A.dylib                     0x000000018613cc04 objc_exception_throw + 60
	2   CoreFoundation                      0x000000018649d020 -[NSObject(NSObject) __retain_OA] + 0
	3   CoreFoundation                      0x0000000186370184 ___forwarding___ + 1444
	4   CoreFoundation                      0x000000018636fb30 _CF_forwarding_prep_0 + 96
	5   ddcctl                              0x00000001029097e0 getDisplayDeviceLocation + 280
	6   ddcctl                              0x000000010290a9ec main + 3368
	7   libdyld.dylib                       0x00000001862b1f34 start + 4
)
libc++abi.dylib: terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException

So it looks like the problem is deeper...a bit beyond me...

coriolanweihrauch · 2021-05-13T13:43:03Z

Seems to be a sub-issue of #86

kfix · 2021-08-15T19:22:12Z

I think I'm gonna rip this stuff out.

FWIW, the 1st part of it (file finding) works on my Catalina -> Big Sur MacBook, which doesn't have the .displays.plist file being mentioned.

yellowmegaman · 2022-09-20T09:34:15Z

Same here on m1 Air running Monterey.
I do have /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist file, but not the /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist

Tried to create a symlink, to no avail:

➜  ~ ddcctl -d 1 -b 90
D: CGDisplay EE5E12D7-D9C0-0B13-0857-D6964E3302DB dispID(#2) (2560x1440 0°) HiDPI
I: found 1 external display
2022-09-20 12:36:03.836 ddcctl[19646:15501860] -[NSTaggedPointerString countByEnumeratingWithState:objects:count:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0x8af6716c9b7372ed
2022-09-20 12:36:03.841 ddcctl[19646:15501860] *** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '-[NSTaggedPointerString countByEnumeratingWithState:objects:count:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0x8af6716c9b7372ed'
*** First throw call stack:
(
	0   CoreFoundation                      0x00000001b9125198 __exceptionPreprocess + 240
	1   libobjc.A.dylib                     0x00000001b8e6fe04 objc_exception_throw + 60
	2   CoreFoundation                      0x00000001b91b8f40 -[NSObject(NSObject) __retain_OA] + 0
	3   CoreFoundation                      0x00000001b9084544 ___forwarding___ + 1764
	4   CoreFoundation                      0x00000001b9083da0 _CF_forwarding_prep_0 + 96
	5   ddcctl                              0x0000000102ba9b8c getDisplayDeviceLocation + 272
	6   ddcctl                              0x0000000102baabfc main + 2952
	7   dyld                                0x0000000102d5908c start + 520
)
libc++abi: terminating with uncaught exception of type NSException
[1]    19646 abort      ddcctl -d 1 -b 90
➜  ~

BurpedUpChunks · 2023-02-15T21:22:59Z

FWIW, this works fine on my 2018 intel mac mini, which has the com.apple.windowserver.plist file.

ddcctl -d 1
D: CGDisplay 5C9147A3-EDE9-AC8E-ECD5-BCFB6DD77685 dispID(#458658526) (2560x1440 0°) HiDPI
I: found 1 external display
I: polling EDID for #1 (ID 458658526 => IOService:/AppleACPIPlatformExpert/PCI0@0/AppleACPIPCI/IGPU@2/AppleIntelFramebuffer@2)
I: got edid.name: LG ULTRAFINE
I: got edid.serial: 102NTSUJ3070

It does not work on my mini M2 Pro, which has the com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist file.

ddcctl -d 1
D: CGDisplay 4643CDD0-144E-44E7-B7BC-3A19BCF36B13 dispID(#1) (3840x2160 0°) 139.00 DPI
D: CGDisplay 030C44D6-5FEA-44DA-93B7-64CCBCE49A5F dispID(#2) (1440x2560 90°) 122.00 DPI
D: CGDisplay 61D730EA-95CB-41AE-BB6A-0D157400A71B dispID(#3) (1440x2560 90°) 122.00 DPI
I: found 3 external displays
E: Failed to parse WindowServer's preferences! (/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist)
E: Failed to acquire framebuffer device for display

dchimeno · 2023-10-03T08:46:10Z

Same error here, mac book pro 13 m1:

ddcctl -d 1

D: CGDisplay BCD9991B-F48F-8EC0-0857-D6964E3302DB dispID(#2) (1920x1080 0°) 92.00 DPI
I: found 1 external display
E: Failed to parse WindowServer's preferences! (/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist)
E: Failed to acquire framebuffer device for display

lambda-m · 2024-02-08T21:09:07Z

Same here... M3 with Sonoma 14.3

% ddcctl -d 1
D: CGDisplay 57B2273F-7EE4-4CFF-A898-FFFEF81C3EC8 dispID(#4) (3840x1600 0°) 111.00 DPI
I: found 1 external display
E: Failed to parse WindowServer's preferences! (/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist)
E: Failed to acquire framebuffer device for display

denisidoro · 2024-03-04T17:12:29Z

Any ETAs for fixing this? It seems like ddcctl doesn't work with ARM chips

denisidoro · 2024-03-04T17:14:51Z

I created a symlink by running the following:

sudo ln -s /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist

However, now I get this:

❯ ddcctl -d 1 -b 100 -c 100 -p 1

D: CGDisplay 5578120E-96C8-400C-B72F-74B384F0EEFE dispID(#3) (1920x1080 0°) 92.00 DPI
I: found 1 external display
*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '-[NSTaggedPointerString countByEnumeratingWithState:objects:count:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0xb78938e1db1e0232'
*** First throw call stack:
(
	0   CoreFoundation                      0x0000000186e7c540 __exceptionPreprocess + 176
	1   libobjc.A.dylib                     0x000000018696deb4 objc_exception_throw + 60
	2   CoreFoundation                      0x0000000186f2e124 -[NSObject(NSObject) __retain_OA] + 0
	3   CoreFoundation                      0x0000000186de6764 ___forwarding___ + 1572
	4   CoreFoundation                      0x0000000186de6080 _CF_forwarding_prep_0 + 96
	5   ddcctl                              0x000000010260da78 getDisplayDeviceLocation + 228
	6   ddcctl                              0x000000010260e83c main + 2512
	7   dyld                                0x00000001869a90e0 start + 2360
)
libc++abi: terminating due to uncaught exception of type NSException
/Users/denis.isidoro/dotfiles/scripts/system/display: line 31: 66322 Abort trap: 6           "${args[@]}"

BurpedUpChunks · 2024-03-05T17:22:20Z

denisidoro, I got the same kind of error. I assume the new file has a different format than the old one.

Dentrax · 2024-05-07T21:57:38Z

M1 Max with Sonoma 14.4 user here. Fresh installed this app and throws the following error:

D: CGDisplay BEF45B94-B0AA-484F-B002-220869C71ADA dispID(#4) (1920x1080 0°) 92.00 DPI
I: found 1 external display
E: Failed to parse WindowServer's preferences! (/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist)
E: Failed to acquire framebuffer device for display

I think thats because I don't have /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist file:

stat /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist
gstat: cannot stat '/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist': No such file or directory

It seems its hardcoded here:

ddcctl/src/ddcctl.m

Line 48 in 06c7ab6

NSString *wsPrefs = @"/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist";

Ran the following command:

sudo ln ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.windowserver.displays.1055DC8F-47D8-5E93-8E9A-12E9658B43FB.plist /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist

Then I hit:

E: Failed to get 'DisplayAnyUserSets' key from WindowServer's preferences! (/Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist)

This also results panic: (As @denisidoro pointed out above)

sudo ln -s /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.displays.plist /Library/Preferences/com.apple.windowserver.plist

*** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '-[NSTaggedPointerString countByEnumeratingWithState:objects:count:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0xa180ac6828bca08a'
*** First throw call stack:
(
	0   CoreFoundation                      0x00000001935ceccc __exceptionPreprocess + 176
	1   libobjc.A.dylib                     0x00000001930b6788 objc_exception_throw + 60
	2   CoreFoundation                      0x000000019368102c -[NSObject(NSObject) __retain_OA] + 0
	3   CoreFoundation                      0x0000000193538cdc ___forwarding___ + 1580
	4   CoreFoundation                      0x00000001935385f0 _CF_forwarding_prep_0 + 96
	5   ddcctl                              0x0000000104439a78 getDisplayDeviceLocation + 228
	6   ddcctl                              0x000000010443a83c main + 2512
	7   dyld                                0x00000001930f20e0 start + 2360
)
libc++abi: terminating due to uncaught exception of type NSException

I found some example data to replace my own file but just don't wanted to mess the configs: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/m1-mac-external-display-fuzzy-fonts-colors-ypbpr-vs-rgb.2276345/page-28?post=30550735#post-30550735

Is there any other place to get IODisplayLocation? https://github.com/kfix/ddcctl/blob/06c7ab6eba5b1c903678f8113a92cef990acaf90/src/ddcctl.m#L69C47-L69C64

/cc @kfix

Contraboi · 2024-07-30T20:06:30Z

@Dentrax I have the exact same issue. Have you found a solution?

Dentrax · 2024-07-30T20:12:44Z

@Dentrax I have the exact same issue. Have you found a solution?

@Contraboi sorry, unfortunately haven't. So I've switched to https://github.com/waydabber/m1ddc - works like a charm, no issues at all.

BurpedUpChunks · 2024-10-02T00:58:22Z

@Dentrax, I too have switched to m1ddc. Now I can swap my 3 monitors from Mac to PC inputs with a single Automator script containing the following 3 commands:

m1ddc display 1 set input 15
m1ddc display 2 set input 17
m1ddc display 3 set input 15

I had to experiment to get the inputs right. Run m1ddc with no args to get the man page, and run it with the args "display list detailed" to get some helpful details. The display number is the one in the brackets, not the "Display ID:" in the table.

kfix added bug needswork labels Jan 9, 2022

synle mentioned this issue Jul 3, 2022

Brightness doesn't work with M1 macs synle/display-dj#148

Open

KrzysztofPrzygoda mentioned this issue Jan 20, 2023

Allow quicker access to DDC power control options waydabber/BetterDisplay#1372

Closed

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Error: Failed to parse WindowServer's preferences #92

Error: Failed to parse WindowServer's preferences #92

detlefs commented Jan 20, 2021

madebyfabian commented Feb 6, 2021

kmplngj commented Feb 7, 2021

detlefs commented Feb 10, 2021

tslater commented May 12, 2021

coriolanweihrauch commented May 13, 2021

kfix commented Aug 15, 2021 •

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yellowmegaman commented Sep 20, 2022 •

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BurpedUpChunks commented Feb 15, 2023

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lambda-m commented Feb 8, 2024

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Dentrax commented May 7, 2024 •

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Contraboi commented Jul 30, 2024

Dentrax commented Jul 30, 2024

BurpedUpChunks commented Oct 2, 2024

Error: Failed to parse WindowServer's preferences #92

Error: Failed to parse WindowServer's preferences #92

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detlefs commented Jan 20, 2021

madebyfabian commented Feb 6, 2021

kmplngj commented Feb 7, 2021

detlefs commented Feb 10, 2021

tslater commented May 12, 2021

coriolanweihrauch commented May 13, 2021

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