Clear recent items in Lion

Unfortunately you have to open each application, go File>Open Recent>Clear Menu. The items will still show until you restart your system.

Apple seem to have no concept that you might want to keep your history private.

Thanks for the answer, Aussieguyinnyc. Hopefully Apple changes this. I'm tired of opening a cartoon for my 6 year old cousins to watch on my computer and having to divert their attention from the Debbie Does Dallas blocks in the Expose bar below.

"Lion lists recent items with each application in the Dock (accessible via right-click) and in the Application View of Mission Control. To remove those and disable future additions, run the following commands in the Terminal. Note that to figure out the application's bundle identifier, you can open Activity Monitor, click the application in the list of processes and then click the “Sample Process” button. Then makes sure the “Display:” popup is set to “Sample Text”."

Restart QuickTime and your recent items should be cleared and no longer cached

I use the following script to activate or deactivate the recent file history:

#! /bin/sh

#

# fhistory.sh

#

# Written in 2011 by Marcel Egloff

#

# A basic tool to display, enable or disable the (global) recent file history for an individual Application

#

# Use it at your own risk and do with it what you want as long as you don't blame me!

#

PROGRAM=`basename $0`

USAGE=`printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: usage: %s [-sd] Application\n" $PROGRAM`

enable=0

disable=0

while getopts ed opt; do

case $opt in

s) enable=1;;

d) disable=1;;

?) echo $USAGE

exit 1;;

esac

done

shift `expr $OPTIND - 1`

if [ $# -eq 1 ]; then

application=$1

else

echo $USAGE

exit 1

fi

extension=`echo $application | awk -F. '{ print $NF }'`

if [ "$extension" != "app" ]; then

application="$application.app"

fi

dir=`dirname $application`

if [ "$dir" != "." ]; then

path=$application

else

path=`find ~/Applications/* -name "$application"`

if [ -z "$path" ]; then

path=`find /Applications/* -prune -name "$application"`

fi

fi

if [ -n "$path" ]; then

if [ -f "$path/Contents/Info.plist" ]; then

if [ -x /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy ]; then

identifier=`/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "print CFBundleIdentifier" "$path/Contents/Info.plist"`

else

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: PlistBuddy not found in /usr/libexec - aborting\n"

exit 1

fi

else

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: Info.plist not found in '$path/Contents' - aborting\n"

exit 1

fi

else

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: Application '$application' not found\n"

exit 1

fi

if [ -n "$identifier" ]; then

echo "Path: $path"

echo "Identifier: $identifier"

if [ $enable -eq 0 -a $disable -eq 0 ]; then

echo

max=`defaults read $identifier.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments 2> /dev/null | grep 'MaxAmount' | sed 's:[^0-9]*::g'`

if [ -z "$max" ]; then

echo "No history found - system defaults will be applied."

else

echo "Maximum number of files in history: $max"

echo

n=1

defaults read $identifier.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments 2> /dev/null | grep 'Name[ ]*=' | awk -F'"' '{ print $2 }' | while read file; do

printf "%2d. %s\n" $n "$file"

n=$[n+1]

done

fi

elif [ $enable -eq 0 ]; then

defaults write $identifier NSRecentDocumentsLimit 0

defaults delete $identifier.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments

defaults write $identifier.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments -dict-add MaxAmount 0

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: file history disabled\n"

else

defaults delete $identifier NSRecentDocumentsLimit 0

defaults write $identifier.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments -dict-add MaxAmount 10 # should supply the system wide default here

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: file history enabled\n"

fi

else

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: Application identifier not found\n"

fi

Have fun!

I've been struggling with this same issue and very nearly just gave up on Lion.

Rich's advice and Shunyam's program look very promising but I haven't been able to figure out how to use the program, and when I try to follow Rich's advice here is where I end up:

$ defaults write com.macromates.textmate.LSSharedFileList

Command line interface to a user's defaults.

Syntax:

'defaults' [-currentHost | -host <hostname>] followed by one of the following:

read shows all defaults

read <domain> shows defaults for given domain

read <domain> <key> shows defaults for given domain, key

read-type <domain> <key> shows the type for the given domain, key

write <domain> <domain_rep> writes domain (overwrites existing)

write <domain> <key> <value> writes key for domain

rename <domain> <old_key> <new_key> renames old_key to new_key

delete <domain> deletes domain

delete <domain> <key> deletes key in domain

domains lists all domains

find <word> lists all entries containing word

help print this help

<domain> is ( <domain_name> | -app <application_name> | -globalDomain )

or a path to a file omitting the '.plist' extension

<value> is one of:

<value_rep>

-string <string_value>

-data <hex_digits>

-int[eger] <integer_value>

-float <floating-point_value>

-bool[ean] (true | false | yes | no)

-date <date_rep>

-array <value1> <value2> ...

-array-add <value1> <value2> ...

-dict <key1> <value1> <key2> <value2> ...

-dict-add <key1> <value1> ...

I am especially interested in any possible global fix...

comp:~user$ RecentDocuments -dict-add MaxAmount 0

-bash: RecentDocuments: command not found

One more update... I thought the problem was a line break error on my end, but even with that fixed I still get

comp:~ user$ defaults write com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX NSRecentDocumentsLimit 0

comp:~ user$ defaults delete com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments

comp:~ user$ defaults write com.apple.QuickTimePlayerX.LSSharedFileList

Command line interface to a user's defaults.

Syntax:

'defaults' [-currentHost | -host <hostname>] followed by one of the following:

read shows all defaults

read <domain> shows defaults for given domain

read <domain> <key> shows defaults for given domain, key

read-type <domain> <key> shows the type for the given domain, key

write <domain> <domain_rep> writes domain (overwrites existing)

write <domain> <key> <value> writes key for domain

rename <domain> <old_key> <new_key> renames old_key to new_key

delete <domain> deletes domain

delete <domain> <key> deletes key in domain

domains lists all domains

find <word> lists all entries containing word

help print this help

<domain> is ( <domain_name> | -app <application_name> | -globalDomain )

or a path to a file omitting the '.plist' extension

<value> is one of:

<value_rep>

-string <string_value>

-data <hex_digits>

-int[eger] <integer_value>

-float <floating-point_value>

-bool[ean] (true | false | yes | no)

-date <date_rep>

-array <value1> <value2> ...

-array-add <value1> <value2> ...

-dict <key1> <value1> <key2> <value2> ...

-dict-add <key1> <value1> ...

comp:~ user$ RecentDocuments -dict-add MaxAmount 0

-bash: RecentDocuments: command not found

comp:~ user$

Brilliant.

Rich! thank you.

The disable of Quicktimes recently opened items is amazing!

However, what would the terminal commands be to disable the recently opened docs in preview.app during mission controll?

Figured it out!

To disable the recently opened docs in Preview.app while invoking mission control (awful name ugh.) exposé!

In Terminal.app

defaults write com.apple.Preview NSRecentDocumentsLimit 0

defaults delete com.apple.Preview.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments

defaults write com.apple.Preview.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments -dict-add MaxAmount 0

Also, I dont have any experience with Scripting, how would one use the Scripts put on here? just curious.

A Terminal disable is perfect for me since I hate the feature (and Lion in general)

Message was edited by: James Kachan

Hi James

A very 'high end user' approach to use the script could be:

1. in the shell, create a text file and open TextEdit:

$ touch fhistory.txt

$ open fhstory.txt

2. paste the script from above into this file and then save and close (make sure you start with the '#! /bin/sh line' and end with the 'fi' on the last line)

3. back in the shell rename the file and make it executable:

$ mv fhistory.txt fhistory.sh

$ chmod +x fhistory.sh

4. use the script with these variations:

Display the history:

$ fhistory.sh TextEdit

Delete and disable the history:

$ fhistory.sh -d TextEdit

Enable the history:

$ fhistory.sh -e TextEdit

Hope this helps :-)

The script previously posted has a small typo!!! Use this one here:

#! /bin/sh

#

# fhistory.sh

#

# Written in 2011 by Marcel Egloff

#

# A basic tool to display, enable or disable the (global) recent file history for an individual Application

#

# Use it at your own risk and do with it what you want as long as you don't blame me!

#

PROGRAM=`basename $0`

USAGE=`printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: usage: %s [-ed] Application\n" $PROGRAM`

enable=0

disable=0

while getopts ed opt; do

case $opt in

e) enable=1;;

d) disable=1;;

?) echo $USAGE

exit 1;;

esac

done

shift `expr $OPTIND - 1`

if [ $# -eq 1 ]; then

application=$1

else

echo $USAGE

exit 1

fi

extension=`echo $application | awk -F. '{ print $NF }'`

if [ "$extension" != "app" ]; then

application="$application.app"

fi

dir=`dirname $application`

if [ "$dir" != "." ]; then

path=$application

else

path=`find ~/Applications/* -name "$application"`

if [ -z "$path" ]; then

path=`find /Applications/* -prune -name "$application"`

fi

fi

if [ -n "$path" ]; then

if [ -f "$path/Contents/Info.plist" ]; then

if [ -x /usr/libexec/PlistBuddy ]; then

identifier=`/usr/libexec/PlistBuddy -c "print CFBundleIdentifier" "$path/Contents/Info.plist"`

else

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: PlistBuddy not found in /usr/libexec - aborting\n"

exit 1

fi

else

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: Info.plist not found in '$path/Contents' - aborting\n"

exit 1

fi

else

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: Application '$application' not found\n"

exit 1

fi

if [ -n "$identifier" ]; then

echo "Path: $path"

echo "Identifier: $identifier"

if [ $enable -eq 0 -a $disable -eq 0 ]; then

echo

max=`defaults read $identifier.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments 2> /dev/null | grep 'MaxAmount' | sed 's:[^0-9]*::g'`

if [ -z "$max" ]; then

echo "No history found - system defaults will be applied."

else

echo "Maximum number of files in history: $max"

echo

n=1

defaults read $identifier.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments 2> /dev/null | grep 'Name[ ]*=' | awk -F'"' '{ print $2 }' | while read file; do

printf "%2d. %s\n" $n "$file"

n=$[n+1]

done

fi

elif [ $enable -eq 0 ]; then

defaults write $identifier NSRecentDocumentsLimit 0

defaults delete $identifier.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments

defaults write $identifier.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments -dict-add MaxAmount 0

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: file history disabled\n"

else

read line

defaults delete $identifier NSRecentDocumentsLimit

read line

defaults write $identifier.LSSharedFileList RecentDocuments -dict-add MaxAmount 10 # should supply the system wide default here

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: file history enabled\n"

fi

else

printf "%%i-$PROGRAM: Application identifier not found\n"

fi

Nice Shunyam!

If that's your approach approach for a VERY HIGH end-user tho, I can't imagine how complicated the approach for a sober user would be! 😉

😁 well it's actually not much worse, but using the UNIX editor 'vi' is definitely not explained in a small post 😉 and remember to use the new script I just posted!

Sorry I meant to contact you ealrier but had a problem with my Apple ID - glad to see you got it working though

Just noticed your last question - essentially the script Shunyam included above is a Shell Script (nice script btw)

The best way run this would be to follow the instructions that he placed at the top; you can open a shell by selecting Applications > Utilities > Terminal

The screen that pop's up is your 'shell' - then follow the commands that are above

If you want a more graphical interface for automation then check out the Automator app in Applications - that is a very powerful tool - there is a Run Shell Script action in there but you'd need to still save the script above to a text file somewhere

Cheers

Rich

Thanks!

Yes, that script is AWESOME. My issue before was related to whatever the typo in there was, so I didn't know what to do with it. But I logged in to read your comment and saw the new code -- it works perfect!

I'm a little late to the party, but I found something that works without fancy scripts.

Either Apple patched it or this works just as well.

Click "Quicktime" in the menu bar at the top and then hold Shift to show the menu option "Quit and discard windows"

I cleared the recent items menu before I did this so you might have to do that too. Either way. Problem solved!