In the new Mac osX CataIina I cannot find a way to change the columns viewed in Mail. You used to be able to change the field widths and add columns from the View/Columns menu. How can I accomplish this now?
Also, what does the black background TO next to the email title mean?
I called Apple Support today and the first tech who shared my screen could not understand why I can no longer adjust the column width and change the Message List font style in Mail Preferences but can only change the font size (the only one that comes with Mail v. 13.0.
So he handed me over to a Senior Advisor who also shared my screen.
He told me other Mac users have complained about the same issue but no solution was found yet.
Then, after the Senior Advisor directed me thru doing a live Quick Time Screen Recording and having me show the problem on my iMac (it's the same width/font issue for Apple Mail v. 13.0 on my MacBook Pro, so he knew it was a Catalina issue) and having a log file created to send to "Apple's Engineering Dept.," I decided to deselect Column View Layout on the Mail toolbar and found that I could successfully change both the font style and font size in Message List to what I liked.
The Senior Advisor then told me that he researched the issue while I was doing that and he read me an internal report that confirmed Mail in Catalina no longer supports Column View Layout or changing the font style in that mode.
Like most of you, I prefer to use Column View and am not pleased with not having the option to continue to use Column View the way I had it set up in every other version of Mac OS I have used previously, which for me goes back eight years.
Finally, the Senior Advisor provided me with this same website others in this forum referenced to give feedback to Apple to let them know I want to be able to use Column View the way I could before.
He told me if he hears of a way to adjust the column widths and change the font in Column View, he will contact me; however, he did say that because it is not technically a malfunction in Apple Mail but rather a change in the program, he doubts he will have a solution and apologized. He told me he agrees that this was not a positive change in Catalina and Apple should offer the option to use Mail the way I (and now I can say, "We" after reading all the posts in this thread) prefer.
So....I will send my feedback thru this link, below, and "hope" it makes a difference.
The ONLY way they're going to do anything is for everyone to:
1) Use all their email addresses and complain to https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html
2) Call AppleCare at 1-800-275-2273 and ask a tech to submit a bug report.
Sadly, Apple—and every other tech company out there—only reactions to Congressional subpeonas and algorithms. You canj affect the algorithm.
And here it is 10.15.3 update and you guessed it - hundreds of people telling them that they have botched Apple Mail - have been ignored. So they update can sit there !
It is really not too difficult to correct this blunder and put back something that should never have been deleted.
Keep posting your complaints > https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html
moonlander33 wrote:
Are they even aware of the anger that is being expressed here. We don't ever get a response so may be not
No, Apple is not because they don't read here (except to make sure that people are conforming to the terms of use). This is a user-to-user forum. If you want Apple to know how you feel, use the feedback page:
David Kelly1 wrote:
When complaining about lack of resizable/moveable columns please complain about the lack of message threading. "Conversations" is a pathetic excuse for real message threading. You could mention, "Even Outlook gets this right."
I'm not complaining about anything. Why are you telling me this? If you want Apple to know, use the feedback page:
tsentsai wrote:
do the right thing Apple...fix Catalina mail...it is truly pathetic and you ate forcing us to go find alternatives...really stupid
Apple is not reading here for suggestions. The more people who submit feedback to the appropriate place, the more likely Apple is to make a change:
moonlander33, thanks for sharing that. I assume this is what you're referring to when you say "directly on the Apple Support site":
https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html
This link has been posted throughout this thread and others, but it can't hurt to post it again and remind people to submit their comments there.
Hi, I have had a long conversation with 'Liam' from Apple Support as I had written in to express my dissatisfaction with the removal of Column View in Mail.
He has promised to feedback directly to the developers (no promises on outcome) and to point them to the huge number of posts on this topic. He encouraged everyone who has this concern to voice it DIRECTLY on the Apple Support site as this is more likely to register with the Apple hierarchy.
https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html
This link has been posted throughout this thread and others, but it can't hurt to post it again and remind people to submit their comments there. If everyone does this who knows!
It's my understanding that the people who matter in terms of decision making don't monitor this forum. As for moderators who make sure inappropriate content isn't placed here, I'm sure they are monitoring this forum. Apple has told me and many others that the correct place to post feedback is: https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html
That being said I do think it's a good idea to keep posting comments here. As I write this there are 18 pages of people who are upset about this issue. I think the fact that so many people are so upset does help. Recently a tech writer wrote an article about this issue referencing all the people upset about it. I would think he would have seen this posting in his research.
Another update and another wasted opportunity to fix Apple Mail Columns!!!
I know there are greater things to worry about in the World at the moment, but working from home it makes this problem more acute! There have been thousands of complaints, overwhelming criticism and negative feedback and even negative publicity in the largely supportive Mac Press and yet nothing. For heaven's sake Apple listen to the feedback of your customers - we are the actual human beings that buy your products, that pay your wages and contribute to your profits. To keep us excited, enthusiastic and supportive of Apple is surely a business priority, so for the millionth time Apple, do the right thing and bring back Apple Mail column customisation functionality.
For those that have not yet done so, please send your complaint directly to Apple at the link below or @applesupport or @apple on twitter - If you want to restore faith in a large group of angry customers - some already looking for an Apple Mail alternative - do the right thing!!
It is now several months after the Catalina update and the surprise and shocking trashing of Apple Mail. The number of negative reviews, protests and complaints continues apace with no signs of it slowing down. We now have a situation where people are openly discussing alternatives - here on Apple authorised discussion forum, with no obvious Apple response. What is going on at Apple?
It now seem clear that removing the functionality of the Columns in mail (reorganising and resizing Columns to personalise your Mail Box experience) was an unpopular step and it has upset thousands of customers. After reading the contributions here it seem many users are very long term loyal Apple enthusiasts and are now disappointed that in some way their loyalty was misplaced. A really sad situation all round. Apple please respond!
In the meantime for all those above, as well as expressing frustration here, please take a moment to send your complaint directly to Apple:
OK - so now we know Apple have absolute contempt for their customers !
Catalina 10.15.5 just released and yet again an opportunity to correct this mistake has been Ignored!
It seems that Apple still don't understand the depth of feeling about this self imposed restriction in the performance in their key application.
I won't be updating and if people don't world wide then they might just sort out this very simple issue to correct.
https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html
GaryCoyne, please submit your feedback at this link: https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html
Also, it would be a good idea for everybody following this thread to submit again if you haven't in a while.
It's interesting that, in the online "Sent" folder, Mail shows the recipient, but in every other online folder, and in every folder On My Mac (including one named "Sent"), Mail insists on showing the sender. It seems like there's some logic in the Mail app that says: (if folder is online) AND (folder name is "Sent") then show the recipient, else show the sender. If only Apple could somehow expose that as a user-selectable view option for each folder, then we'd be in business. Shouldn't be that hard.
I've submitted my feedback at https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html. I encourage everyone else to do the same.
I went ahead and submitted my feedback at https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html as well. I hope others will also do this. The removal of columns is terrible UX and the inability to easily find emails sent to a particular person, once they've been moved from the server-based Sent folder to local folders for safekeeping, is completely stupid design.
This has been said many times but bears repeating. If you want Apple to pay attention, use this web site:
https://www.apple.com/feedback/
Adding to this discussion may make us feel good but it is a waste of time.
catalina mail column view
