topic Re: Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup

JoeBorgione — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 16:14:46 GMT

ArcGIS Pro 2.1.2

I've written a script tool that allows the user to delete up to five projects. The tool works just fine, but of course, those project names still show under "Open a recent project". Is there a way (yet) to purge that list of empty projects?

This was posted three years ago: how to remove ArcGIS Pro recent projects from the start menu? and provides a work around. From the post checked as correct answer: "This is something that our application framework team is considering for future release."

Maxim Pastchenko‌

Kory Kramer‌

Re: Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup

KoryKramer — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 16:24:49 GMT

We'll have to see if Maxim Pastchenko‌ can help with any updates? There is still no UI for this but as he stated in the referenced post, it can be done through the user.config... If you go into the user.config, you get more surgical and just delete just the <string>projectname.aprx<string> instead of wiping the whole file...

Re: Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup

JoeBorgione — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 16:59:39 GMT

Thanks Kory- I was hoping for something it easier than that for new users who might be uncomfortable performing open xml surgery....

Re: Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup

KoryKramer — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 17:17:03 GMT

I understand. I'd suggest logging an idea on https://community.esri.com/community/arcgis-ideas?sr=search&searchId=3a1b15bd-60a2-4a49-8d87-8b8b3cda4263&searchIndex=0‌ to persist this request and open it up to community voting.

Re: Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup

MaximPastchenko — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 23:34:34 GMT

Unfortunately this is not yet available. From the UI we have ability to remove individual project items. Please submit enhancement request as Kory mentioned. Thank you

Re: Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup

JoeBorgione — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 08:18:37 GMT

Vote early and vote often:

https://community.esri.com/ideas/14808

Re: Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 03:18:53 GMT

don't forget to vote yourself Joe

Re: Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup

JoeBorgione — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 12:18:08 GMT

Thanks Dan- I've never submitted an idea before that I can think of and assumed by posting one was a vote....

Re: Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup

MichaelVolz — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 18:21:21 GMT

Maybe a project time stamp can be added so you could create a startup script that could delete older projects from the config file using this additional time information about the aprx.

Re: Cleaning up the 'Recent Project' list upon startup

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 18:27:48 GMT

That might work for some... but my testing project is a couple of years old and has aged gracefully and I wouldn't want some time-stamping administrator cleaning up.

Purging empty projects is one thing, but overzealous tidying up could lead to disaster.

Besides... the user is the sentient one (usually)