Hidden files shown in applications folder

Question

I have the Applications folder in my dock and whenever i right-click it to reveal its contents hidden files like .ds_store are shown. This doesnt happen on my other macs?
(This also happens in other folders placed in the dock)
Any ideas?
Thanks, Daniel.

Answer 1

Whenever using the 'defaults' command, the 'man' page suggests specifying a data type for the value "for best results". Most properties for most apps don't seem to care, but i have run into a few that do - specific behaviours for individual properties probably varies case by case.
The confusion in syntax may arise in part because 'defaults read' always prints out the result in ascii format which obliterates the type info. That's why writing back the output of a 'defaults read' in a 'defaults write' doesn't always work - the output might say '1' or '0' when the plist file needs '-bool 1' or '-bool 0' (or '<true/>' or '<false/>'), or a number may be written as a string when it needs to be an integer, etc.
I usually do try to specificy a "type" when posting answers using the 'defaults' command, but I admit I rarely enclose the value in single quotes which the 'man' page says is a "must"...