Column not centering?

[MerlinMama]

I have a custom column defined as "Text, but with a fixed set of permitted values". These values are single letters (Y, N, P). I have the alignment set for centered, but it appears to be left aligned. I changed the alignment to Left and Right, with no noticeable difference.

I *think* it used to be centered, because I set most of my columns that way and when changing I would have noticed, but if it was and something changed it, I can't say when.

Image shows Edit column with alignment Center (top) and alignment Left (bottom). The other columns (Words and Pages) are centered properly, but they are not defined the same.

[MerlinMama]

Hmm, I've just noticed that in another library, the column centers normally. The column is defined the same, positioned the same, so not sure what is going on...I usually create columns in my Main Intake Library, and they are then copied to the other libraries, so in theory should be identical.

[theducks]

Originally Posted by MerlinMama

Hmm, I've just noticed that in another library, the column centers normally. The column is defined the same, positioned the same, so not sure what is going on...I usually create columns in my Main Intake Library, and they are then copied to the other libraries, so in theory should be identical.

When 1 woiks and a 'nother don't :

Run Library Maintenance to see if there is any complaints

[MerlinMama]

Originally Posted by theducks

When 1 woiks and a 'nother don't :

Run Library Maintenance to see if there is any complaints

I run it every 2 weeks to 1 month, since there's a high turnaround, but I did just run it to check and no problems show. I'm hoping I don't have to delete and re-create it. It is linked to the other libraries, so THEY would have to be redone. Not bad, except that column is populated manually...Yuck

[BetterRed]

@MerlinMama - I have a column 'Cont' that can have B, I, N and V, it centres OK.

Suggestion : create a new column of same type edit2/Edit 2, use bulk metadata edit S&R to copy the existing edit/Edit column into it and see if it will centre. If it centres, discard the old column, and then rename 'edit2/Edit 2' to 'edit/Edit'.

BR

[MerlinMama]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

@MerlinMama - I have a column 'Cont' that can have B, I, N and V, it centres OK.

Suggestion : create a new column of same type edit2/Edit 2, use bulk metadata edit S&R to copy the existing edit/Edit column into it and see if it will centre. If it centres, discard the old column, and then rename 'edit2/Edit 2' to 'edit/Edit'.

BR

Yeah, I was hoping not to have to do that, since I don't think it will 'match up' with the Edit columns in my other libraries. Still, I probably will...shame, because doesn't cause problems, just really, REALLY annoys me.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by MerlinMama

Yeah, I was hoping not to have to do that, since I don't think it will 'match up' with the Edit columns in my other libraries. Still, I probably will...shame, because doesn't cause problems, just really, REALLY annoys me.

I suspect it would match up providing the columns have column type, allowable values, and the same internal and display names.

But how about this, create a new empty library and copy a couple of books into it (with all your custom columns) and see if the column will centre in that library.

are you really sure that the allowable values are exactly 'Y', 'N' and 'P' and not 'Y...', 'N...' and 'P...', where '...' is something like em-space, thin-space etc.

BR

[MerlinMama]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Suggestion : create a new column of same type edit2/Edit 2, use bulk metadata edit S&R to copy the existing edit/Edit column into it and see if it will centre. If it centres, discard the old column, and then rename 'edit2/Edit 2' to 'edit/Edit'.

BR

I followed your above suggestion. Edit2 was centered, so I deleted Edit and renamed Edit2. I then tested copying books to and from other libraries.

I then noticed that my column had moved position and was now no longer centered! And yet in the other libraries (I checked again) all centered.

I have no idea what is going on with that. I think I will create a new column with a different name (perhaps Edt or something and then rename the Edit columns in other libraries to the new name. Hopefully that will work!

are you really sure that the allowable values are exactly 'Y', 'N' and 'P' and not 'Y...', 'N...' and 'P...', where '...' is something like em-space, thin-space etc.

Yeah, I'm sure, it was *almost* the first thing I checked, since that is something I would totally do LOL

[MerlinMama]

Well, I solved the mystery, and I feel slightly idiotic.

A while back, while organizing my fanfiction section, I discovered column icons (thanks BetterRed!). I added icons to the Title column to let me know if a certain fanfic was complete or in progress and loved it.

I then needed another icon, but you can apparently only have one icon per column, so I put this new icon on the Edit column, even though it had nothing to do with editing. So, even though the icon was not in use, I guess the column keeps that space 'reserved', therefore it doesn't show as centered with as small as I keep that column.

Also explains why, when I renamed the new column that *was* centered back to Edit, it changed to what I thought was not centered. While modifying another icon rule, I found the *problem* and felt very silly

[chaley]

Originally Posted by MerlinMama

I then needed another icon, but you can apparently only have one icon per column ...

You can have as many icons in a column as you wish. If you use the "Composed icon ..." type then calibre continues processing rules, adding icons as required, until it hits the end or it hits a successful non-composed rule.

[MerlinMama]

Thanks! I didn't even look under that button. When I was first setting things up, it showed me the icon and I figured that was good enough for me. Honestly though, I doubt even having looked I would have known what it did. I had to test today the difference between 'with text' and 'without text'.

Side note: I was testing out if it would work and didn't notice I had changed VLs to one that didn't have the test tag I wanted. Took a while to figure out why it wasn't working and was about to ask how to use it...

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by MerlinMama

Well, I solved the mystery... While modifying another icon rule, I found the *problem* and felt very silly

No need to feel 'silly', given the vast number of features calibre provides, it's the sort of mistake any of us make can make.

Regarding composed icons:

I attach them to an integer column, the only purpose of which is to provide a place to put the icons, its value is irrelevant - it will always be undefined.

To align icons, I use a fully transparent PNG for the 'otherwise' case, you can see the effect of that here:

BR

[Divingduck]

That's a good hint. Easy to use. Thanks.