Custom Column Creation not working in 2008.06 Final

[Bearded Kirklander]

I think this bug was fixed on the very last beta, but may have not been included in the 2008.06 Final release.

When I go in to try to either create or modify a custom column configuration, it is not functioning properly.

I can add and even edit the Profile Name, but when I go into the interface for Defining Columns, I am finding some odd behavior.

For example. When you first enter the Profiles dialog via the following menu selections:

View
Custom Columns
Settings

and click the Add To List button, if you do not specify a name for that profile and just leave it blank, it actually creates a blank entry instead of forcing a user to enter in a valid number or letter. I don't think it should allow for blank names (null value), should it? If you try entering in spaces (using the space bar) and press Enter, the code is smart enough to recognize that as an invalid entry, and it rejects it and highlights the valid profile name above it. Should it not do the same thing for null values?

Second item. Once you have typed in a valid name, the next step is usually to select the "Define Columns" button so you can enter fields into the "Columns" dialog. By default, it always lists the NAME column first, and it cannot be deleted, which I think is what should happen, as that behavior makes sense.

However, the process of entering additional column types is a bit confusing and could probably benefit from a minor tweak or two.

Currently, you must first select an entry from the drop-down content list box, and then click the Add To List button in order to get your selection to appear. I think that also kind of makes sense once you get used to it. You don't first click the Add To List button and then choose an item from the content list, which is what I first thought you had to do, but once you know the step, it works fine. If you choose an item from the content list box first, like Extension, and then click the Add To List button, it adds an entry for Extension right below the one for Name.

However, the next part seems counter-intuitive. Say I accidently enter two date content choices instead of extension and then date. My first instinct is to select that duplicate line in the profile list and then once it is highlighted, to choose an item from the content list box, and then have that highlighted line change to my new choice, which in this case would be "Extention". But that method does not work.

It appears that you must actually delete any entry you wish to change and then re-select the one you meant to choose from the content list box and follow that up by clicking the Add To List button.

There seems to be no provision for editing an existing entry that I can find. I believe it would be beneficial to allow a user to not only create new entries, but to also allow a user to select the list entry first, and THEN choose an entry from the content list box and have the value that exists in the columns list be updated / changed to whatever the user chooses from the content list box.

Does that make sense? I sure hope so.

I'll look forward to hearing your thoughts about this post and the proposed tweak. I hope the request seems reasonable and is easily modified in the code.

Thank you much,

BK

[Marek]

I have changed the definition in the current beta 360, I hope now it is more intuitive.

[Bearded Kirklander]

I have changed the definition in the current beta 360, I hope now it is more intuitive.

I just tested it and it looks like you did a great job. It does indeed seem more intuitive now and reacts to my input as I would expect it to.

The only flaw that I can seem to find is that whatever item in the column definition dialog is highlighted is reset to a default value of 10 when I click and select from the Add To List button. It seems a minor thing and does not require much time to re-enter the values to what they were before they were reset to 10, but I wanted to mention it to you in the hope you will be able to correct it.

I really, really like how you added the drop-down list of selectable values to the Add To List button in the Column Definition dialog. I'd have to have too much allergey medicine fogging my brain in order to mess that process up. <grin>

I also very much like that on every entry under the mandatory NAME field, I can click on it and then go to the Content List Box and choose a different value and it updates the existing definition with the new value.

You have again, kind sir, responded quickly and competently, and I feel that with all of the work you do on this ever-improving application, I just can't say thank you enough.

With sincere appreciation,

BK