Exclude certain file types from Documents list in Windows XP

[Fardringle]

One of my office users frequently opens .TIF image files as part of her job, however, she also has a few Office documents that she uses on a regular basis. She likes to have those Office documents stay on her Recent Documents list on the Windows Start menu so that she has easy access to them. I know that I can just create Desktop shortcuts to the documents but she wants them in the recently used list so her Desktop stays "clean".

Before I was forced to reinstall Windows on this computer, I had it set up so that opening image files (.TIF, .GIF, .JPG, etc.) did not add those files to the Recent Documents list but I can't remember how I did it since I set it up several years ago. Google searches are only giving me links to other forums where other people have asked the same question and didn't get an answer. If you know how to do this, please let me know so this user can stop pestering me about it every day!

 

[RebateMonger]

Hopefully somebody will tell you how to do this.

In the meantime, did you consider creating a "Frequently Accessed Documents" shortcut folder in the "Quick Launch" toolbar? She can "move" documents there and only a shortcut will be created in that folder. It'd allow selective management of those favorites by allowing her to choose which ones she wants in that folder, rather than relying on a constantly-changing "Recent Documents" list.

 

[Fardringle]

I would prefer to do it that way since it is simple, but she is the type of person who has to have everything exactly where she wants it to be or she can't use it, even if a new location would be easier to access..

If I can't find a way to set it up the way she wants it, then I suppose she'll just have to adapt.

 

[bruceb]

Please look at this registry key & it's sub keys:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs

Once in there you can look at the various file types and change the DWORD
on the ones you do not want to show in the my recent docs. Hope this helps.

 

[Fardringle]

Originally posted by: bruceb
Please look at this registry key & it's sub keys:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\RecentDocs

Once in there you can look at the various file types and change the DWORD
on the ones you do not want to show in the my recent docs. Hope this helps.

That's exactly what I was looking for, Bruce! I couldn't remember where it was hiding in the registry and Google failed me. Thanks!

 

[bruceb]

Glad it helped.

 

[nineball9]

I remembered this item in PC World magazine's Feb 2009 issue. Called Flexigensoft's free ActualDoc, PC World touted it as software to "Replace Vista's Clunky Recent Items List". The standard version is free but I've never tried it. Might be overkill for your requirements.

 

[JarrodMJ]

Can anyone expand on this? What should the DWORD be and where to put it to exclude certain file types from showing up in the Recent Document list? I have XLAM (Excel 2007 add ins) files showing up in the list every time I open Excel. I want to keep the add ins but not have them show up on the recent list in XP. Other posts on the internet simply have you disable the add ins--not much help.

This post is the closest thing I have found on the internet regarding excluding certain files and/or file types from the 'My Recent Documents' list in Windows. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Fardringle]

In Windows XP you can either edit the names entries for the file types that you do not want in the recent used list (rename the key from .jpg to .jp0, for example, so that you can restore them if needed), or simply delete the keys from the registry. You can also edit the DWORD values, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you know how to read HEX codes.

edit: I assume it's the same in Vista, but I don't have a computer with Vista installed so I'm not sure.