https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&aid=3249971&group_id=163434&atid=827735
When using GtkRecent for the management of recently used files, Xournal's recently used 
files also appear in the shell. That's very convenient for the new document-centric shells 
such as Gnome Shell and Unity.
Timo Kluck ( tkluck ) - 2011-03-27 10:40:08 PDT

=== modified file 'src/main.c'
--- src/main.c	2011-03-10 18:14:21 +0000
+++ src/main.c	2011-03-27 16:32:52 +0000
@@ -334,7 +334,6 @@
   
   if (bgpdf.status != STATUS_NOT_INIT) shutdown_bgpdf();
 
-  save_mru_list();
   if (ui.auto_save_prefs) save_config_to_file();
   
   return 0;

=== modified file 'src/xo-callbacks.c'
--- src/xo-callbacks.c	2011-03-10 18:14:21 +0000
+++ src/xo-callbacks.c	2011-03-27 16:32:52 +0000
@@ -3101,32 +3101,36 @@
 
 
 void
-on_mru_activate                        (GtkMenuItem     *menuitem,
+on_mru_activate                        (GtkRecentChooser *recentChooser,
                                         gpointer         user_data)
 {
-  int which;
   gboolean success;
+  gchar *uri, *name;
   GtkWidget *dialog;
   
   end_text();
   if (!ok_to_close()) return; // user aborted on save confirmation
   
-  for (which = 0 ; which < MRU_SIZE; which++) {
-    if (ui.mrumenu[which] == GTK_WIDGET(menuitem)) break;
-  }
-  if (which == MRU_SIZE || ui.mru[which] == NULL) return; // not found...
-
+  uri = gtk_recent_chooser_get_current_uri (recentChooser);
+  name = g_filename_from_uri (uri, NULL, NULL);
   set_cursor_busy(TRUE);
-  success = open_journal(ui.mru[which]);
+  success = open_journal(name);
   set_cursor_busy(FALSE);
-  if (success) return;
+  if (success) {
+    g_free(uri);
+    g_free(name);
+    return;
+  }
 
   /* open failed */
   dialog = gtk_message_dialog_new(GTK_WINDOW (winMain), GTK_DIALOG_DESTROY_WITH_PARENT,
-    GTK_MESSAGE_ERROR, GTK_BUTTONS_OK, _("Error opening file '%s'"), ui.mru[which]);
+    GTK_MESSAGE_ERROR, GTK_BUTTONS_OK, _("Error opening file '%s'"), name);
   gtk_dialog_run(GTK_DIALOG(dialog));
   gtk_widget_destroy(dialog);
-  delete_mru_entry(which);
+
+  delete_mru_entry(name);
+  g_free(uri);
+  g_free(name);
 }
 
 

=== modified file 'src/xo-callbacks.h'
--- src/xo-callbacks.h	2011-03-10 18:14:21 +0000
+++ src/xo-callbacks.h	2011-03-27 16:32:52 +0000
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@
                                         gpointer         user_data);
 
 void
-on_mru_activate                        (GtkMenuItem     *menuitem,
+on_mru_activate                        (GtkRecentChooser *recentChooser,
                                         gpointer         user_data);
 
 void

=== modified file 'src/xo-file.c'
--- src/xo-file.c	2011-03-10 18:14:21 +0000
+++ src/xo-file.c	2011-03-27 17:09:20 +0000
@@ -1211,99 +1211,53 @@
   }
 }
 
-// initialize the recent files list
+// initialize GtkRecentManager. Also backwards compatibility: import recent files into GtkRecentManager
 void init_mru(void)
 {
-  int i;
+  GtkRecentFilter *recentFilter = gtk_recent_filter_new ();
+  gtk_recent_filter_add_application ( recentFilter, "xournal");
+  gtk_recent_chooser_add_filter (GTK_RECENT_CHOOSER (GET_COMPONENT("fileRecentFiles_menu")), recentFilter);
+
   gsize lfptr;
-  char s[5];
   GIOChannel *f;
-  gchar *str;
+  gchar *str, *uri;
   GIOStatus status;
+  GtkRecentManager *recentManager = gtk_recent_manager_get_default ();
   
-  g_strlcpy(s, "mru0", 5);
-  for (s[3]='0', i=0; i<MRU_SIZE; s[3]++, i++) {
-    ui.mrumenu[i] = GET_COMPONENT(s);
-    ui.mru[i] = NULL;
-  }
   f = g_io_channel_new_file(ui.mrufile, "r", NULL);
   if (f) status = G_IO_STATUS_NORMAL;
   else status = G_IO_STATUS_ERROR;
-  i = 0;
-  while (status == G_IO_STATUS_NORMAL && i<MRU_SIZE) {
+  while (status == G_IO_STATUS_NORMAL) {
     lfptr = 0;
     status = g_io_channel_read_line(f, &str, NULL, &lfptr, NULL);
     if (status == G_IO_STATUS_NORMAL && lfptr>0) {
       str[lfptr] = 0;
-      ui.mru[i] = str;
-      i++;
+      uri = g_filename_to_uri (str, NULL, NULL);
+      gtk_recent_manager_add_item (recentManager, uri);
+      g_free(uri);
+      g_free(str);
     }
   }
   if (f) {
     g_io_channel_shutdown(f, FALSE, NULL);
     g_io_channel_unref(f);
   }
-  update_mru_menu();
-}
-
-void update_mru_menu(void)
-{
-  int i;
-  gboolean anyone = FALSE;
-  gchar *tmp;
   
-  for (i=0; i<MRU_SIZE; i++) {
-    if (ui.mru[i]!=NULL) {
-      tmp = g_strdup_printf("_%d %s", i+1,
-               g_strjoinv("__", g_strsplit_set(g_basename(ui.mru[i]),"_",-1)));
-      gtk_label_set_text_with_mnemonic(GTK_LABEL(gtk_bin_get_child(GTK_BIN(ui.mrumenu[i]))),
-          tmp);
-      g_free(tmp);
-      gtk_widget_show(ui.mrumenu[i]);
-      anyone = TRUE;
-    }
-    else gtk_widget_hide(ui.mrumenu[i]);
-  }
-  gtk_widget_set_sensitive(GET_COMPONENT("fileRecentFiles"), anyone);
+  g_unlink (ui.mrufile);
 }
 
 void new_mru_entry(char *name)
 {
-  int i, j;
-  
-  for (i=0;i<MRU_SIZE;i++) 
-    if (ui.mru[i]!=NULL && !strcmp(ui.mru[i], name)) {
-      g_free(ui.mru[i]);
-      for (j=i+1; j<MRU_SIZE; j++) ui.mru[j-1] = ui.mru[j];
-      ui.mru[MRU_SIZE-1]=NULL;
-    }
-  if (ui.mru[MRU_SIZE-1]!=NULL) g_free(ui.mru[MRU_SIZE-1]);
-  for (j=MRU_SIZE-1; j>=1; j--) ui.mru[j] = ui.mru[j-1];
-  ui.mru[0] = g_strdup(name);
-  update_mru_menu();
-}
-
-void delete_mru_entry(int which)
-{
-  int i;
-  
-  if (ui.mru[which]!=NULL) g_free(ui.mru[which]);
-  for (i=which+1;i<MRU_SIZE;i++) 
-    ui.mru[i-1] = ui.mru[i];
-  ui.mru[MRU_SIZE-1] = NULL;
-  update_mru_menu();
-}
-
-void save_mru_list(void)
-{
-  FILE *f;
-  int i;
-  
-  f = fopen(ui.mrufile, "w");
-  if (f==NULL) return;
-  for (i=0; i<MRU_SIZE; i++)
-    if (ui.mru[i]!=NULL) fprintf(f, "%s\n", ui.mru[i]);
-  fclose(f);
+  gchar *uri = g_filename_to_uri (name, NULL, NULL);
+  gtk_recent_manager_add_item (gtk_recent_manager_get_default(), uri);
+  g_free(uri);
+}
+
+void delete_mru_entry(char *name)
+{
+  gchar *uri = g_filename_to_uri(name, NULL, NULL);
+  gtk_recent_manager_remove_item(gtk_recent_manager_get_default(), uri, NULL);
+  g_free(uri);
 }
 
 void init_config_default(void)

=== modified file 'src/xo-file.h'
--- src/xo-file.h	2011-03-10 18:14:21 +0000
+++ src/xo-file.h	2011-03-27 16:32:52 +0000
@@ -28,10 +28,8 @@
 void bgpdf_update_bg(int pageno, struct BgPdfPage *bgpg);
 
 void init_mru(void);
-void update_mru_menu(void);
 void new_mru_entry(char *name);
-void delete_mru_entry(int which);
-void save_mru_list(void);
+void delete_mru_entry(char *name);
 
 void init_config_default(void);
 void load_config_from_file(void);

=== modified file 'src/xo-interface.c'
--- src/xo-interface.c	2011-03-10 18:14:21 +0000
+++ src/xo-interface.c	2011-03-27 17:09:20 +0000
@@ -43,14 +43,6 @@
   GtkWidget *separator1;
   GtkWidget *fileRecentFiles;
   GtkWidget *fileRecentFiles_menu;
-  GtkWidget *mru0;
-  GtkWidget *mru1;
-  GtkWidget *mru2;
-  GtkWidget *mru3;
-  GtkWidget *mru4;
-  GtkWidget *mru5;
-  GtkWidget *mru6;
-  GtkWidget *mru7;
   GtkWidget *separator22;
   GtkWidget *filePrintOptions;
   GtkWidget *image624;
@@ -397,41 +389,9 @@
   gtk_widget_show (fileRecentFiles);
   gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (menuFile_menu), fileRecentFiles);
 
-  fileRecentFiles_menu = gtk_menu_new ();
+  fileRecentFiles_menu = gtk_recent_chooser_menu_new_for_manager (gtk_recent_manager_get_default ());
   gtk_menu_item_set_submenu (GTK_MENU_ITEM (fileRecentFiles), fileRecentFiles_menu);
-
-  mru0 = gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic (_("0"));
-  gtk_widget_show (mru0);
-  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (fileRecentFiles_menu), mru0);
-
-  mru1 = gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic (_("1"));
-  gtk_widget_show (mru1);
-  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (fileRecentFiles_menu), mru1);
-
-  mru2 = gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic (_("2"));
-  gtk_widget_show (mru2);
-  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (fileRecentFiles_menu), mru2);
-
-  mru3 = gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic (_("3"));
-  gtk_widget_show (mru3);
-  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (fileRecentFiles_menu), mru3);
-
-  mru4 = gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic (_("4"));
-  gtk_widget_show (mru4);
-  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (fileRecentFiles_menu), mru4);
-
-  mru5 = gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic (_("5"));
-  gtk_widget_show (mru5);
-  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (fileRecentFiles_menu), mru5);
-
-  mru6 = gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic (_("6"));
-  gtk_widget_show (mru6);
-  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (fileRecentFiles_menu), mru6);
-
-  mru7 = gtk_menu_item_new_with_mnemonic (_("7"));
-  gtk_widget_show (mru7);
-  gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (fileRecentFiles_menu), mru7);
-
+    
   separator22 = gtk_separator_menu_item_new ();
   gtk_widget_show (separator22);
   gtk_container_add (GTK_CONTAINER (menuFile_menu), separator22);
@@ -1967,28 +1927,7 @@
   g_signal_connect ((gpointer) fileSaveAs, "activate",
                     G_CALLBACK (on_fileSaveAs_activate),
                     NULL);
-  g_signal_connect ((gpointer) mru0, "activate",
-                    G_CALLBACK (on_mru_activate),
-                    NULL);
-  g_signal_connect ((gpointer) mru1, "activate",
-                    G_CALLBACK (on_mru_activate),
-                    NULL);
-  g_signal_connect ((gpointer) mru2, "activate",
-                    G_CALLBACK (on_mru_activate),
-                    NULL);
-  g_signal_connect ((gpointer) mru3, "activate",
-                    G_CALLBACK (on_mru_activate),
-                    NULL);
-  g_signal_connect ((gpointer) mru4, "activate",
-                    G_CALLBACK (on_mru_activate),
-                    NULL);
-  g_signal_connect ((gpointer) mru5, "activate",
-                    G_CALLBACK (on_mru_activate),
-                    NULL);
-  g_signal_connect ((gpointer) mru6, "activate",
-                    G_CALLBACK (on_mru_activate),
-                    NULL);
-  g_signal_connect ((gpointer) mru7, "activate",
+  g_signal_connect ((gpointer) fileRecentFiles_menu, "item-activated",
                     G_CALLBACK (on_mru_activate),
                     NULL);
   g_signal_connect ((gpointer) filePrintOptions, "activate",
@@ -2520,14 +2459,6 @@
   GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, separator1, "separator1");
   GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, fileRecentFiles, "fileRecentFiles");
   GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, fileRecentFiles_menu, "fileRecentFiles_menu");
-  GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, mru0, "mru0");
-  GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, mru1, "mru1");
-  GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, mru2, "mru2");
-  GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, mru3, "mru3");
-  GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, mru4, "mru4");
-  GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, mru5, "mru5");
-  GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, mru6, "mru6");
-  GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, mru7, "mru7");
   GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, separator22, "separator22");
   GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, filePrintOptions, "filePrintOptions");
   GLADE_HOOKUP_OBJECT (winMain, image624, "image624");

=== modified file 'src/xournal.h'
--- src/xournal.h	2011-03-10 18:14:21 +0000
+++ src/xournal.h	2011-03-27 16:32:52 +0000
@@ -257,8 +257,6 @@
   GdkCursor *cursor;
   gboolean progressive_bg; // update PDF bg's one at a time
   char *mrufile, *configfile; // file names for MRU & config
-  char *mru[MRU_SIZE]; // MRU data
-  GtkWidget *mrumenu[MRU_SIZE];
   gboolean bg_apply_all_pages;
   int window_default_width, window_default_height, scrollbar_step_increment;
   gboolean print_ruling; // print the paper ruling ?