Column layout resetting to default

[Aurum2836C]

I can't seem to get a customized column layout to stick but only on a third library.

I have calibre's most recent update for Windows. I've had the same customized layout for all 3 libraries (no change from multiple previous calibre versions).

But after this recent update, the column layout resets back to default but only for 1 of the 3 libraries. If I try to re-customize the defaulted layout, the columns reset to default in one of the other libraries & seems to always be the third one I switch to - meaning, not necessarily the same library is reset if I switch to the others in different orders.

As in:
Library A, B & C
- only A & B will show my customized column layout, C will have reset to default
- if I re-customize C, then switch to A then B
- A will still have a customized column layout but B will have defaulted back
- if I re-customize B, then switch to C then A
- C will still have a customized column layout but A will have defaulted back
- if I re-customize A, then switch to C then B
- C will still have a customized column layout but B will have defaulted back
- & so on
It is always the third library that I switch to that resets, no matter which actual library it is.

Any ideas? I don't remember having any problems with column layout before. I've always had calibre for Windows. I've got Windows 8.1 still & have had many previous versions of calibre without this happening.

[theducks]

Library layouts are stored in the DB

Do you have some sort of Cloud sync running? That will fight

I switch Libraries (usually only 2, but I have done more) all the time and not lost the current arrangement.

[Aurum2836C]

No sync to anything. These are all local.
The column resets will occur if I switch through the libraries without exiting calibre.

As in switch to A, then B, then C, then B, then C, then A, etc. As long a 2 of the libraries have customized columns, the third one I switch to will have reset.

It's bizarre, I know. I've never had a problem with 2+ libraries before.

It's as if it will only allow 2 libraries to be customized but it doesn't matter which ones.

[theducks]

Confirmed (W10)
I also have VL's in my Libraries.
I switched between all 5 Libraries

Then, in the current:
I switched to All Books (VL),
Switched to another Library, hid a column
Switched back, the Library was back on the To Read VL
Switched to the previous Library,
The column was back

[Aurum2836C]

Seems to be the show/hide is what's resetting...but - wait for it

So, playing around with it some more - some specific customizations are sticking.

If I re-arrange the order of the columns, the re-arranged order will stay.
My user-defined columns are still present...

BUT...

if I uncheck my user-defined columns to hide them, the columns DO NOT reset & everything stays hidden - including the other, unchecked non-user-defined columns.

I only have 2 user-defined columns per library. If one is checked (to be visible) but the other is unchecked (to be hidden) or both are unchecked, there is NO reset.

But if BOTH are checked to be visible, then all the columns end up being reset to default - i.e. everything is visible by default.

So, how's that for weird. What could be causing that?

[kovidgoyal]

I cannot reproduce this, steps I tried

1) Create three libraries t1, t2, t3 all with the same two user defined columns

2) Make both columns visible in all three libraries

3) Switch from t1 to t2 to t3 to t1 to t2 to t3

4) Both columns remain visible and at the same size/location and the hidden builtin column (last modified) remains hidden

[kovidgoyal]

Similarly the sequence:

1) Switch to t3, hide one of the user defined columns

2) Switch to t1, t2 and back to t3

3) The hidden column stayed hidden in t3 and visible in t1 and t2

[theducks]

@Aurum2836C
Do you happen to use View Manager Pi?

(I don't)

Kovid, I have 1 Library that always opens on a VL.

Is there a preference for to apply a VL on open?


Preferences: Is it possible for you to put some sort of mark on those Preferences that are per-Library (or per-user system)
Currently they are mixed (a relic of when calibre only did 1 Simple Library)

[kovidgoyal]

virtual libraries dont affect column layout, they only restrict what rows are visible.

[Aurum2836C]

I don't use any virtual libraries or view managers.

My libraries have had the same preferences for several months. It's only since the columns have been reappearing that I've been playing with the settings.

Thanks for looking into this, both of you, by the way.

I did take a second computer (also W8.1) & put a fresh install of calibre on it. I copied my library folders to it - still all local.

On this second computer, a slightly different thing happened. The hidden columns would reset to visible but only for library B. Libraries A & C kept their settings.

All the entries appear okay - nothing seems corrupted or missing. It doesn't seem to matter if I exit out of the program after hiding the columns.

These are my specific column customizations that I've had for several months:

Want visible:
Title, author, series, user-defined integer for page count, user-defined text for my personal sorting keys

Trying to keep hidden:
Date, size, rating, tags, publisher, published, modified, languages

Despite unchecking these 8 fields in the preferences or hiding each column via the context menu, these fields reappear after switching back & forth through the libraries.

The order I set the fields is kept, though. So, I have moved the fields I want hidden to the end to kind of keep them out of the way if they continue to re-appear.

Checking back on the first computer, it was still the third library switch to (but not necessarily the exact same library) that would reset if I try to customize all 3 & switch between them.

If I don't try to keep hiding columns, eventually 2 of the 3 libraries will have all the columns re-appear but the third one seems to stay as set.

I'll play around with it some more after work today. I've backed-up my libraries so I might just uninstall/re-install, maybe the earlier version, & see what happens.

[theducks]

Tip:
You can Hide any column by using the right click menu on the columns title.
You can use the right click menu on any column title to SHOW a hidden column


There is power in calibres right-click Menus. It pays to explore

[Aurum2836C]

Yes, I've tried both ways - via the preferences menu (checking/unchecking the boxes in the fields) & via the right-click context menu.

It doesn't seem to matter. The columns keep re-appearing for no reason.

I actually tend to use the context menu for a vast number of things but tried the preferences menu when all this started happening.

Still stumped.

[BetterRed]

@Aurum2836C - An old memory cell is suggesting that problems of this ilk were the reason I installed View Manager. If all else fails give it a try.

If there was a poll on which PI's ought be folded into the core, View Manager would be my first preference

BR

[Aurum2836C]

Okay, I've played around with my libraries & I think I have fixed the problem for the moment.

I turned off the columns I didn't want & added a third user-defined column (currently empty). I did this to force calibre to set my preferences & want a restart. I did this for each library (restarting calibre at the prompt each time).

I then madly switched between all 3 libraries about a dozen times & it seems to be holding the column layout now.

I still don't know what was going on before but this seems to have finally *I hope* set the settings properly.

If it happens again, I look into a view manager - I presume this is a plugin?

Thanks to everyone for thinking out loud with me