Using Ventura 13.1, Apple Mail in column view. The column widths change on their own. The width setting will vary in different mailboxes, even when purposely set to a desired width across all mailboxes (global column width, if you will). How to permanently set or LOCK the column width and have same width on every mailbox? This seems to have been impossible to do, going back five years or more.
Mac mini, macOS 13.0
The thing to understand here is that the size and organization of the columns is not associated with a particular mailbox, but to the window or tab you are using.
In other words, if you want different organization for mailbox "A" vs mailbox "B":
Click the + tab to add a new tab to your Message Viewer window. Then in each tab you can adjust the columns in any way you want, and they will stay that way.
For example, here are two tabs, each showing "All Inboxes" with different column sizes:
One, is the user Profile " Mac mini, macOS 13.0 " accurate as often times it is not.
If already running the latest Stable Version 13.1 good.
If not the links will assist on this matter
Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support (CA)
About the security content of macOS Ventura 13.1 - Apple Support (CA)
Have Column View in below image and can Resize the Columns to certain limits.
The almost invisible Vertical Bar between the Arrows will change to double headed and allow dragging left or right of the Bar
They stay in that view even after a shutdown and restart.
1 - Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.
2 - Safe Mode will also eliminate Third Party Software, extensions and drivers from loading
3 - Does the issue present in this mode ?
4 - Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.
Then have a few suggestions ;
1 - Get Support Choose a product and we’ll find you the best solution.Start now and open an Apple Support Ticket as they are Apple Employees to deal will these types of issues .
2 - Product Feedback - Apple and make it known to Apple regarding this ongoing issue and request that Apple re-write the Operating System for this specific issue
As implied but not specifically stated - I am running 2 machines each on Ventura 13.1 and using Apple Mail version 16.0
Do not experience this oddity in Apple Mail
Then have a few suggestions ;
1 - Get Support Choose a product and we’ll find you the best solution.Start now and open an Apple Support Ticket as they are Apple Employees to deal will these types of issues .
2 - Product Feedback - Apple and make it known to Apple regarding this ongoing issue
Sorry 😔 about the misstep re: Ventura 13.0 vs 13.1
ajmich wrote:
Thanks. This would appear to be a workaround, but not practical for me. I simply want to set the column width ONCE, globally across all my mailboxes, and LOCK that setting.
EASY.
Adjust as you want, and don't close the Message Viewer. Done.
Thank you, that was quick! As I stated, "Using Ventura 13.1" -- and I do not see anywhere to indicate my current OS version in User Profile at https://discussions.apple.com/profile/preferences -- is there somewhere else you are seeing v13.0 for me? I cannot find that. Anyway yes, I am on v13.1. The full version shown in system report is macOS 13.1 (22C65).
To clarify: The issue is not how to set the column sizes -- I am aware of dragging the bar for columns and this way of resizing columns has been around for ages in all sorts of software, yes?
The issue is that the column sizes will not "save"... they change on their own... as stated, "even when purposely set to a desired width".
IE, upon setting the widths for my global inbox, I might adjust the widths in one or more of my many mailboxes. Later I notice that the widths in my inbox have changed, sometimes dramatically. The column width settings will not "lock" into place.
Luis: Did that, looked good, didn't close anything; checked several other mailbox folders and all had the same column widths. Peeked at Outbox, then back to inboxes -- column widths are changed. What am I missing here?
Sorry, I don't know why. I realize that some things change when looking at the outbox or sent mailboxes (because, for instance, there is no "From" column), but in my limited testing I always got back to the previous appearance as soon as I returned to an Inbox or other "regular" mailbox.
Admittedly, this is not something that I use; I have left Column Layout behind and grown accustomed to the new look for a few years now.
You could, as a workaround, have two tabs, one for "input" and one for "output" - though, if you are like me, you will just click on Sent or whatever mailbox all too often. (I, for one, hardly ever use tabs in Mail - or Finder, by the way).
Good work from Previous Contributor
Thanks. This would appear to be a workaround, but not practical for me. I simply want to set the column width ONCE, globally across all my mailboxes, and LOCK that setting.
Ventura Mail Column View (Desktop) column view problem
