Where are ${EXECUTABLE_NAME} and ${PRODUCT_NAME} defined - iphone

Question

Where can I find information on how to modify these
${EXECUTABLE_NAME}
${PRODUCT_NAME}
These are only displayed in .plist file but where are the actual values.
If we can directly modify what ever we want in .plist why we need these.
I am new that's why I'm having problem understanding these, I also looked into apple information Property list key reference but didn't find these ${} values.

Answer 1

The PRODUCT_NAME is defined in the target's Build Settings in the Packaging section. It has the same name by default as your project.
Edit:
While PRODUCT_NAME is by default the name of the Target (MyDemoApp in this case). The EXECUTABLE_NAME is a concatenation of:
$EXECUTABLE_PREFIX, $PRODUCT_NAME and $EXECUTABLE_SUFFIX.
See the reference of EXECUTABLE_NAME for details.
Update
The new reference can be found here http://help.apple.com/xcode/mac/8.3/#/itcaec37c2a6
EXECUTABLE_NAME
Specifies the name of the binary the target produces.

Answer 2

I think the $ represents the variable productName & executableName as the $ is used in unix. The variables are set in the build setting of the application. So you should not change the product name directly in the plist file. Instead, go to build settings, search for product name and change it.

Answer 3

Xcode ${<variable_name>} syntax
Xcode variable can be defined on different level and the Resolved one is used. You can use Build Settings -> Levels tab to manage it
All variables are listen in Build Settings. Also every setting has it's own declaration
Product Name - PRODUCT_NAME
These setting are saved in buildSettings block of
<project_name>.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj
You can use Search view to find any variable and Help Inspector to find declaration and other useful information
Some of settings are not exposed by Xcode
EXECUTABLE_NAME
But you are able to get or even to override the value using User-Defined Settings
reader_EXECUTABLE_NAME = $(EXECUTABLE_NAME)
EXECUTABLE_NAME = $EXECUTABLE_PREFIX$PRODUCT_NAME$EXECUTABLE_SUFFIX
[SWIFT_MODULE_NAME, PRODUCT_MODULE_NAME, PRODUCT_NAME, EXECUTABLE_NAME]
[TARGET_NAME]

Answer 4

Specifically about how ${PRODUCT_NAME} gets defined in terms of order:
It's originally defaulted to the target's name: $(TARGET_NAME)
You can reset it in 'build settings' by searching for Product Name
Note: If any value was derived off of ${PRODUCTS_NAME} and you change it to some-constant-value then it's no longer going to be a computed value.
e.g. if you change the value of CFBundleName from its default ${PRODUCT_NAME} to something like My cool App then your app's name on the springboard will show up as 'My cool App'. It will no longer show up as 'whatever your target's name is'