How Do I Remove Items From Launchpad?

I can say that the above link and instructions on the page work a treat. After you run it, you'll end up with a clean Launchpad you can customize as you please.

Only problem is after you clean it, you'll end up with a bunch of empty folders that are really of no use. To get rid of them all you have to do is take any app you put in Launchpad and drop it in the folder. Then open the folder and drag the app out. Voila! The folder deletes itself. Kind of stupid, but it's the only way I found of getting rid of them. Other option is to use as many as you need, but rename them to something useful.

Now I'm digging Launchpad! Hate the fact that they got rid of Spaces, though, but I'm sure I'll learn to be without it!

yep, same issue with the folders but easy fix. If anyone had seen my previous image, this is what it looks like now after using theLoren Segal terminal code.

I cant even describe howe nice it is now... Well like it should be I guess. I know this isn't the "corect answer" but it's much better than the give up and let apple fixe it answer.

This launchpad is crazy. Useless since you have little to no control over what it contains.

It seems that the only way to manage lanuchpad is to move all programs from the applications folder that you don't want to see in launchpad? This is a solution like what windows users are used to.

I'm going back to my old system of folders containing the alias's I use all the time.

I expected better from Apple.

Dude - just read a couple posts up and follow the instructions in the link. It will give you all the control you want over Launchpad.

Granted, we shouldn't have to do this to begin with, but it's a viable solution until Apple comes up with something else which I'm sure they will.

As I said before, Dude, I'm not willing to jump through hoops trying to get it to work. Launchpad is not currently workable, and by that I mean easily configurable. The WHOLE POINT of having launchpad is it's use as an EASY way to configure apps for launch.

I'll use it when Apple fixes it, not before.

For everyone who doesn't want to muck around with terminal commands:

Here's a small and Free app for removing/restoring items from the Launchpad with 1 click:

LaunchpadCleaner: http://zoltanb.co.uk/launchpadcleaner/

I gave it a try. Why publish a solution thath will only add Apple programs to the launchpad? This is no solution.

I cleared the launchpad, great it works!

Tried to app MS word... nope, the procedure won't produce an Icon.

Ok, so I tried World of Warcraft... nope, the procedure won't work. No icon created.

Excel?... nope.

Tried a video converter I use all the time... nope, doesn't work.

Ah, Safari adds just fine.

Oh, Notes adds just fine.

You are certainly not telling us that we can unly use Apple products in the Launchpad?

FIX Lanuchpad please.

Hi Islandbear,

Just tried it, it works fine with Launchpad Cleaner.

1. Clean your Launchpad:
   
2. Navigate to your MS word folder and drag the icon into launchpad:
   
3. Start Launchpad to see the result:
   

I hope it helped!

I tried again, exactily is listed on the dev website (And as you detailed above) with the same result.

It works fine clearing the Launchpad, but will only add Apple applications.

I open my applications folder, drag to the Launchpad icon.... then check launchpad. Works for Apple stuff but for Word 2008 nothing.

Tried Garageband, works fine.

Tried Google Earth, nothing. No icon created.

Tried ICal, you guesed it, works fine.

So, as I stare at my Launchpad populated with only apps from Apple I'm very sure that this app is not working for any but Apple programs. (At least for me)

The hard work is only a Copy-Paste from the linked page....of the command line into the Terminal window....

Just tried Google apps as well, it worked fine, but it put it on the second page of Launchpad.

Make sure you check all pages of launchpad, maybe it put your apps on the second page?

If that's the case, you can drag them back to the first one.

-----------------------------------------------------------

LaunchpadCleaner. Simple and Free.

I really like the app that removes all my launchpad items. I can simply drag the majority of my apps back to launchpad and everything is fine.

I thought I couldn't place Word, Excel, and certain other apps back into launchpad once I cleared it. Then I discovered that some apps selectively go to the second page. Which you can just drag back and place on the first page if you so desire.

I love Launchpad, it prevents me from having to dig too deep. Instant access, which allows me to unclutter my dock. This is a stroke of genious.

Great App. LION rocks.

Thanks for the advice guys.

It's all very well to have an app to help manage launchpad, but the concept of an app to manage an app just completely escapes me, especially one that you have to pay for...

What annoys me is that once I cleaned out my lauchpad (with reminal terminal sqlite3 commands) OS X Lion 'restored' my previous top-level apps without my express confirmation.

Launchpad is not so useful for some and with such deep integration, even a key on the Air for it, I'd not expect to buy an app to manage it properly.

This preference pane is the way to go:

http://chaosspace.de/launchpad-control/

Or in terminal you could adjust the sqlite3 database, but this failed for me as OS X re-asserts it's king of the desktop over me...

/Users/yourusername/Library/Application Support/Dock

sqlite3 thelongstring.db

Run sqlite3 commands:

.help

.tables

select * from apps;

To addjust, check the schema:

.schema apps

CREATE TABLE apps (item_id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, title VARCHAR, bundleid VARCHAR, storeid VARCHAR,category_id INTEGER, moddate REAL, bookmark BLOB);

to delete:

delete from apps where item_id = 'the id goes here';

I'm using launchpad control and it seems to work for me. I'd say a series of sqlite3 commands wrapped in a preference pane, it's smarter.

have fun hacking!

You are right, Hacking is the right word.

Most of these sqlite commands disregard even the basic SQL concepts (eg. foreign key) and leave the database in an invalid state.

Luckily Launchpad verifies this and restores the original state if it gets broken. This explains your frustration:

Matt Hardy wrote:
What annoys me is that once I cleaned out my lauchpad (with reminal terminal sqlite3 commands) OS X Lion 'restored' my previous top-level apps without my express confirmation.

Yes, Launchpad will get rid of any invalid sqlite hacks.

If you value your time, and use your mac for work, then useLaunchpadCleaner 2, it will take care of keeping your database valid and it will give you features that Launchpad doesn't provide:

• Backing up and Restoring saved layouts
• Renaming apps
• transferring layouts between your macs,
• ...etc.

If you prefer hacking and don't mind being annoyed that Launchpad keeps resetting itself at every reboot, then 'have fun hacking!' 🙂