x2 Column Positions

Scot_Free · Post by **Scot_Free** » 2003 Oct 26, 06:21

Using x2-47 on WinXP. If I open Control Panel, reposition the column width (so that everything is readable), check "Save setting now" under Actions and then leave Control Panel, the columns return to original position.

Post by **nikos** » 2003 Oct 26, 09:53

column positions are saved only for filesystem and zipfolders
there are so many types of virtual folders like "control panel" and what have you that would have clogged up your registry, had they all been saved

a slight consolation is that you can double-click on a column divider to autosize any column

Scot_Free · Post by **Scot_Free** » 2003 Oct 26, 13:15

Well, could you code the program so that the column widths are wide enough to read?

Sure don't want to put anything in that registry!!

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2003 Oct 26, 13:48

nikos,

I agree with Scot_Free, in that I think that the default column widths for 'name' & 'comments' sb wider than currently (perhaps 2x for name & 2x-3x for comments in virt.folders 'my computer' and 'control panel').
Default widths in other virt.folders (e.g.: 'recycle bin', 'my network places') are okay for the most part, except 'name' & 'comments' could be wider there too -- they are already 1.5x of width in 'my computer' & 'control panel'.

Post by **nikos** » 2003 Oct 26, 16:49

windows specifies certain rules for column sizing
most (virtual) folders have this right, e.g. MyComputer
Control Panel programmers have got their act wrong and return small values when x2 asks "how wide is that column?". Surely this is not my fault!

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2003 Oct 26, 18:35

Thanks for the clarification.
(I guess we can't be in control of everything.)
But, wanting to be, nevertheless ... is there no way of overiding the m$ defaults for specific cases like this where m$ programmers got it wrong?

Post by **nikos** » 2003 Oct 27, 07:35

everything is possible
one day you add a statement "if folder is control panel, override the column sizes"
then m$ in the next windows $$ correct the problem, so your program has to be modified like "if folder is control panel, override the column sizes, but check the windows version first because for new windows you don't have to do that anymore". Repeat that for all folders that require exceptional handling... and before you know it you are kicked out of the shaolin tower

Jaykul · Post by **Jaykul** » 2003 Oct 30, 16:21

what about something like ... holding shift while double-clicking a column edge auto-resizes ALL the columns at once?

Post by **nikos** » 2003 Oct 30, 17:13

could do
however, a few freakish long names here and there and you'd be chasing the right edge of the window... on the monitor next desk on the right!

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2003 Nov 01, 03:52

And another "what about something like ..." might be:

if column_type = Name
set col_width = max(get_column_width, good_min_name_width)
end
if column_type = Comments
set col_width = max(get_column_width, good_min_comments_width)
end

(or whatever the correct syntax is)

This would get around needing to check whether Windows version ever gets it right; although the query & explicit set_width would be often not necessary to widen column width. (Don't know how if this test would be a noticeable resource sink.)

Post by **nikos** » 2003 Nov 01, 09:08

so how do you spell "name" and "comments" in german or chinese?
welcome to windows programming anno 2003!

fgagnon · Post by **fgagnon** » 2003 Nov 01, 13:24

My expectation was that the ojbect 'handles' would be language transparent in your source code, so no need to know other language(s) for this. (bummer to redo for each language)

Post by **nikos** » 2003 Nov 02, 07:27

there are such language-neutral "codes" but for regular filesystem folders. Control panel isn't one of them, unfortunately. But I think your idea about minimum acceptable width is good, so I'll see how it can be incorporated

Jaykul · Post by **Jaykul** » 2003 Nov 03, 18:50

nikos wrote:could do
however, a few freakish long names here and there and you'd be chasing the right edge of the window... on the monitor next desk on the right!

I for one am willing to take that chance.

Anyway, the problem with long file names doesn't go away just because I have to click each column individually, it's inherent. But with an option to resize them all at once I'd be able to get on with the chasing quicker

tallrobert · Post by **tallrobert** » 2003 Dec 11, 14:02

Hi,

I too, would like to see a way to resize the columns. One thing the Windows Explorer has, which is WONDERFUL, is the the key sequence Ctrl-Plus (Ctrl + grey "+") while situated in the file list area (not the tree view). This automatically resizes all the columns to the contents. There must be a Windows API or something that does this because I've seen this behavior on many grid components (just my guess).

Something like this would be very nice. <hint, hint>

Robert