Skip to main content
Trevor:
Legend
January 27, 2014
Question

Recent files list

  • January 27, 2014
  • 2 replies
  • 3063 views

Hi all,

I highly doubt that this can be done but....

Any chance of creating and saving a file without it being added to the recent files list.

Trevor

This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

January 27, 2014

Would it be possible to find all of the InDesign shortcuts from the Recent Items folder and save them to a temp folder somewhere? Then restore them when your script is finished making the new docs.

Might run into some kind of folder access issue, I just don't know.

Trevor:
Trevor:Author
Legend
January 27, 2014

Hi Robert

I'm not to sure what you mean there.

As I hinted in the first paragraph of 2 above restoring the list by opening them and closing them I think is dangerous.

And I don't think one can add to the recent list by adding menu items to it.

To be honest I don't even think one can access the list at all.  I have made a list of all menu items and the entries are not on it.

I'd be very suprised to be able to solve this one.

Thanks

Trevor

Inspiring
January 28, 2014

The above said. You have given me the idea of finding the application recent files list file.

My guess is that some where in the application folder is a recent files xml file which could be backed up before running the script and then replace the new one with the old one . That way should be pretty safe.

I've know idea where (and if) such a file is so I'll resort to desperate measure.

ANNOUNCEMENT:

The Grand Forum Challenge Of The Decade.

Find the above mentioned xml or whatever file.

1st Prize: Fame , glory , appreciation and $2.00 paid (via paypal) within 1 working day for the 1st person to post the file location.

TIA

Trevor

P.s. Please take note of the dot between the 2 and the 0 in the prize money.


Hi Trevor

There is an XML (plist) file, however it is not limited to InDesign

Also, it doesnt seem like editing it makes any difference

But, I guess I can leave it to you to try it out.

On mac, the file path is:

~/Library/Preferences/com.adobe.mediabrowser.plist

There is an InDesign tag in the file

Each time a file is changed, the date tag of that file listing gets updated.

Good Luck!

Peter Kahrel
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 27, 2014

Maybe temporarily disable the recent file list in the preferences (app.generalPreferences.openRecentLength = ).

Peter

Trevor:
Trevor:Author
Legend
January 27, 2014

Nice thought Peter, but I tried setting it to 0 and then back to 10 after saving the file. The list is now empty, I don't know if it would be possible to  store the documents on the list and reopen (hidden) them and then close them to rebuild the list but I defiantly would not want to do that.

The script I am writing creates tens of documents which will wipe the recent file list.

I have come up with a partial solution of saving them all with the same name and renaming each file after it's creation so it only enters 1 entry in the list.

I don't think I can get around that.  Incrementing the list length is not an option.

Thanks for your input.

Trevor