How can I keep recent files from appearing in Unity?

Question

I sometimes browse erotic media files but I would like to avoid having them appear in files & folders / recent. How can I do that?

The old "making .recently-used.xbel a folder" trick from 10.10 and older doesn't work any more.

Plus I'd prefer to turn off tracking only temporarily.

I also prefer not to use a separate user for this, as switching users sometimes isn't fast enough.

Answer 1

Method 1: Using Activity Log Manager

Ubuntu Precise 12.04

In Ubuntu Precise Activity Log Manager 0.9 is included by default. It can be accessed from System Settings or just by looking for Privacy.

Or you can simply type Privacy in Dash

Now you can start blacklisting applications. Screenshots

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Activity Log Manager in Oneiric and first release

You can install Activity Log Manager from the Stable PPA.

For more details about Activity Log Manager you should check out the article on OMG! Ubuntu! and article on Webupd8

A new version of Activity Log Manager is in development which looks better and is simpler to use. A screenshot of the unreleased Activity Log Manager

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Method 2: Using Gnome Activity Journal

You can do it, provided that there is some pattern in the files. For example you have kept all your explicit content in folder /home/mrpig/erotica/ folder.

Then open Activity Journal which is a GUI frontend to Zeitgeist which acts as a Dashboard showing your recent activities. On top right Zeitgeist Icon, click it and Preferences. Check "Blacklist Manager" plugin

Then goto "BlackList Manager" tab. Click on New button, and then edit the new entry which comes as file:///home/mrpig/erotica/*

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Linked Question:

1. Hidden files are shown in Dash

Answer 2

There is a way to do it, but it will clear all the other recent files as well.

All you have to do is run the following commands:

rm ~/.local/share/zeitgeist/activity.sqlite
zeitgeist-daemon --replace

Edit zeitgiest/activity.sqlite no longer exists on my system:

rm ~/.local/share/zeitgeist
zeitgeist-daemon --replace

It takes a moment, but it repopulates as the daemon starts.

Update: Activity Log Manager has been released. This is a GUI tool that allows you to tweak the Zeitgeist history: you can delete part of the Zeitgeist history, blacklist some applications or prevent logging certain types of files as well as blacklist folders.

Install it using the commands below:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:zeitgeist/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
zeitgeist-daemon --replace
sudo apt-get install activity-log-manager

I've recorded a video demoing Activity Log Manager here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eQn7ZyfSlw

Answer 3

Just rename the folder after browsing. After you renamed it, the files in there won't show up in unity recent files. Pretty easy solution, just make sure you don't forget it every time you use that folder :)

(Sry for my english)

Answer 4

Zeitgeist's developers are working on Zeitgeist Global Privacy. It will allow to remove part of Zeitgeist history (last hour, week, etc), blacklist an application or file type from the history and exclusion of a folder from the history. A few screenshots are provided in the linked blog post.

Answer 5

What I do is, I just rename the folder, add a _ at the end and it is gone from the list. But providing a Clear recent history windows should not be that difficult.

Answer 6

The old "making .recently-used.xbel a folder" trick does work, but now the file is in ~/.local/share so:

$ rm ~/.local/share/recently-used.xbel
$ mkdir ~/.local/share/recently-used.xbel

...works for me :)

Answer 7

for Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric) + Unity (3D)

[Adapted from Alin Andrei (answer).]

UPDATED: Safer method of stop, erase, re-start (for Zeitgeist)

step 1. get the tools

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:zeitgeist/ppa
sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install activity-log-manager

step 2. set files/directory activity to ignore.

'Activity Log Manager' >> Files >> Prevent logging files :

(Select folder) /home/$username/Private  [Add]           -  private folders
(Select folder) /home/$username/install/image  [Add]     -  Ubuntu .ISO files

(Close)

step 3. clear ALL history [safe method]

zeitgeist-daemon --quit

ls -l ~/.local/share/zeitgeist/

sudo rm ~/.local/share/zeitgeist/activity.sqlite.bck  (if present)
sudo rm ~/.local/share/zeitgeist/activity.sqlite-journal  (if present)
sudo rm ~/.local/share/zeitgeist/activity.sqlite

step 4. restart Zeitgeist [safe method]

zeitgeist-daemon &

( The ampersand '&' allows process to run in background. )

Answer 8

For unity simply delete zeitgeist folder from .local/share/ and you will not see your recently used files again

Answer 9

Using a GUI Method:

1. Click on the Home Icon on the Left Tool Bar which opens Nautilus in your Home directory.
2. Under View on the Top Tool Bar make sure Show Hidden Files is checked.
3. Now using Nautilus navigate to .local/share.
4. Optional: if you don't like to type: highlight the file: recently-used.xbel then right click and choose Rename then copy the entire file name of recently-used.xbel by using either Ctrl+c or Ctrl+Insert
5. Now Delete the file: recently-used.xbel
6. In a blank area of the current folder right click and choose Create Document/Empty File
7. Rename the default filename: new file to recently-used.xbel by either typing it or if you followed step 4 Paste by Ctrl+V or Shift+Insert the name so the new file appears as recently-used.xbel