MacOS – Why won’t Launchpad create a .db file? Restarts reset Launchpad

There is a better way to do this. The IT department at my company maintains a disk image with all of the settings in place they need to administer the Macs when they are received-including software in place registered with site licenses. They open the Macs and simply replace what's on the hard drive with the disk image.

Scripting is a logical path, but scripting System Preferences is a real bear because you have to go with GUI Scripting which is rife with problems, the least of which trying to decipher UIElementInspector to get what you need.

Assuming you still have the Launchpad icon on your dock try dropping the app you want to be added to Launchpad on it.

Haven't tried it myself, but I recall reading about it somewhere.