Prevent column header (field) removal by drag

[Fred]

Is there any way to prevent the (say) email folder view column headers
(from - to - subject etc.) being deleted/removed by draging?

I have a genuinely dexterity challenged user who regularly drags a heading
when intending to only click it to change the sort. The result is the column
disappears. Even a very slight upward movement when clicking near the top
edge can result in unintended removal of the column.

If deletion of a column could be limited to the "Remove this column" from
the context menu all would be fine.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

Is there any way to prevent the (say) email folder view column headers
(from - to - subject etc.) being deleted/removed by draging?

I have a genuinely dexterity challenged user who regularly drags a
heading when intending to only click it to change the sort. The
result is the column disappears. Even a very slight upward movement
when clicking near the top edge can result in unintended removal of
the column.
If deletion of a column could be limited to the "Remove this column"
from the context menu all would be fine.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is possible. I've often wished for it
myself (along with the option to lock toolbars in Office applications). One
(slightly blunt-force) option might be to change the Outlook shortcut he
uses to add the /cleanviews switch at the end.... that would reset all the
built-in views back to 'factory default'.

 

[Fred]

I suspected as much. Yes - locking would be a good idea.
I was hoping there might be some programatic method of holding or restoring
the view.
I dont suppose the 'factory default' can be bash edited anywhere?
If I knew where the custom views data is stored then maybe that could be
restored pre startup.
The whole delete by drag idea seems a bit strange to start with. I wonder if
anyone actually uses it.

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

I suspected as much. Yes - locking would be a good idea.
I was hoping there might be some programatic method of holding or
restoring the view.
I dont suppose the 'factory default' can be bash edited anywhere?
If I knew where the custom views data is stored then maybe that could
be restored pre startup.

But that's what I suggested with the /cleanviews switch - if you start
Outlook that way, it will reset every default view back to its default
settings.

The whole delete by drag idea seems a bit strange to start with. I
wonder if anyone actually uses it.

I do - and sometimes, even, on purpose!

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

In

Unfortunately, I don't think this is possible. I've often wished for
it myself (along with the option to lock toolbars in Office
applications). One (slightly blunt-force) option might be to change
the Outlook shortcut he uses to add the /cleanviews switch at the
end.... that would reset all the built-in views back to 'factory
default'.

 

[Fred]

I wouldnt have thought restoring defaults would be useful unless one could
make the defaults be what one wanted, hence the question about bash editing
them. Or have I missed something?

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

In

I suspected as much. Yes - locking would be a good idea.
I was hoping there might be some programatic method of holding or
restoring the view.
I dont suppose the 'factory default' can be bash edited anywhere?
If I knew where the custom views data is stored then maybe that could
be restored pre startup.

But that's what I suggested with the /cleanviews switch - if you start
Outlook that way, it will reset every default view back to its default
settings.

The whole delete by drag idea seems a bit strange to start with. I
wonder if anyone actually uses it.

I do - and sometimes, even, on purpose!

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

In Fred <[email protected]> typed:
Is there any way to prevent the (say) email folder view column
headers (from - to - subject etc.) being deleted/removed by draging?

I have a genuinely dexterity challenged user who regularly drags a
heading when intending to only click it to change the sort. The
result is the column disappears. Even a very slight upward movement
when clicking near the top edge can result in unintended removal of
the column.
If deletion of a column could be limited to the "Remove this column"
from the context menu all would be fine.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is possible. I've often wished for
it myself (along with the option to lock toolbars in Office
applications). One (slightly blunt-force) option might be to change
the Outlook shortcut he uses to add the /cleanviews switch at the
end.... that would reset all the built-in views back to 'factory
default'.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

I wouldnt have thought restoring defaults would be useful unless one
could make the defaults be what one wanted, hence the question about
bash editing them. Or have I missed something?

Restoring defaults reverts erroneous changes.
I don't know of any way to do what you wish programatically - if the user
cannot be taught, try my suggestion. It will work.

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

In

I suspected as much. Yes - locking would be a good idea.
I was hoping there might be some programatic method of holding or
restoring the view.
I dont suppose the 'factory default' can be bash edited anywhere?
If I knew where the custom views data is stored then maybe that
could be restored pre startup.

But that's what I suggested with the /cleanviews switch - if you
start Outlook that way, it will reset every default view back to its
default settings.

The whole delete by drag idea seems a bit strange to start with. I
wonder if anyone actually uses it.

I do - and sometimes, even, on purpose!

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
message

In Fred <[email protected]> typed:
Is there any way to prevent the (say) email folder view column
headers (from - to - subject etc.) being deleted/removed by
draging? I have a genuinely dexterity challenged user who regularly
drags a
heading when intending to only click it to change the sort. The
result is the column disappears. Even a very slight upward
movement when clicking near the top edge can result in unintended
removal of the column.
If deletion of a column could be limited to the "Remove this
column" from the context menu all would be fine.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is possible. I've often wished
for it myself (along with the option to lock toolbars in Office
applications). One (slightly blunt-force) option might be to change
the Outlook shortcut he uses to add the /cleanviews switch at the
end.... that would reset all the built-in views back to 'factory
default'.

 

[Fred]

The user can't be taught better. It is not a knowledge issue but a
neurological one. The error is never intentional. I have tried slowing and
slugging the mouse and other accessability solutions, but to no avail in
this instance. It is such a tiny movement that is needed for such a
remarkable result.
Unfortunately, restoring defaults also reverts intentional changes. I guess
I was hoping to solve the issue without a functionality compromise, but
c'est la vie.

Thanks for your genuine attempt to help.

BTW, do you know where the setting are likely to be kept? Would it be
somewhere in outcmd.dat, or somewhere else in the profile?

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

In

I wouldnt have thought restoring defaults would be useful unless one
could make the defaults be what one wanted, hence the question about
bash editing them. Or have I missed something?

Restoring defaults reverts erroneous changes.
I don't know of any way to do what you wish programatically - if the user
cannot be taught, try my suggestion. It will work.

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

In Fred <[email protected]> typed:
I suspected as much. Yes - locking would be a good idea.
I was hoping there might be some programatic method of holding or
restoring the view.
I dont suppose the 'factory default' can be bash edited anywhere?
If I knew where the custom views data is stored then maybe that
could be restored pre startup.

But that's what I suggested with the /cleanviews switch - if you
start Outlook that way, it will reset every default view back to its
default settings.

The whole delete by drag idea seems a bit strange to start with. I
wonder if anyone actually uses it.

I do - and sometimes, even, on purpose!

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
message

In Fred <[email protected]> typed:
Is there any way to prevent the (say) email folder view column
headers (from - to - subject etc.) being deleted/removed by
draging? I have a genuinely dexterity challenged user who regularly
drags a
heading when intending to only click it to change the sort. The
result is the column disappears. Even a very slight upward
movement when clicking near the top edge can result in unintended
removal of the column.
If deletion of a column could be limited to the "Remove this
column" from the context menu all would be fine.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is possible. I've often wished
for it myself (along with the option to lock toolbars in Office
applications). One (slightly blunt-force) option might be to change
the Outlook shortcut he uses to add the /cleanviews switch at the
end.... that would reset all the built-in views back to 'factory
default'.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

In

The user can't be taught better. It is not a knowledge issue but a
neurological one. The error is never intentional. I have tried
slowing and slugging the mouse and other accessability solutions, but
to no avail in this instance. It is such a tiny movement that is
needed for such a remarkable result.
Yep!

Unfortunately, restoring defaults also reverts intentional changes.

Don't change default views - create custom ones.

I
guess I was hoping to solve the issue without a functionality
compromise, but c'est la vie.

Yes, it is.

Thanks for your genuine attempt to help.

You're most welcome.

BTW, do you know where the setting are likely to be kept? Would it be
somewhere in outcmd.dat, or somewhere else in the profile?

In the registry per user profile; don't ask me where.

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"

In

I wouldnt have thought restoring defaults would be useful unless one
could make the defaults be what one wanted, hence the question about
bash editing them. Or have I missed something?

Restoring defaults reverts erroneous changes.
I don't know of any way to do what you wish programatically - if the
user cannot be taught, try my suggestion. It will work.

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
message

In Fred <[email protected]> typed:
I suspected as much. Yes - locking would be a good idea.
I was hoping there might be some programatic method of holding or
restoring the view.
I dont suppose the 'factory default' can be bash edited anywhere?
If I knew where the custom views data is stored then maybe that
could be restored pre startup.

But that's what I suggested with the /cleanviews switch - if you
start Outlook that way, it will reset every default view back to
its default settings.

The whole delete by drag idea seems a bit strange to start with. I
wonder if anyone actually uses it.

I do - and sometimes, even, on purpose!

"Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]"
in message

In Fred <[email protected]> typed:
Is there any way to prevent the (say) email folder view column
headers (from - to - subject etc.) being deleted/removed by
draging? I have a genuinely dexterity challenged user who
regularly drags a
heading when intending to only click it to change the sort. The
result is the column disappears. Even a very slight upward
movement when clicking near the top edge can result in
unintended removal of the column.
If deletion of a column could be limited to the "Remove this
column" from the context menu all would be fine.

Unfortunately, I don't think this is possible. I've often wished
for it myself (along with the option to lock toolbars in Office
applications). One (slightly blunt-force) option might be to
change the Outlook shortcut he uses to add the /cleanviews
switch at the end.... that would reset all the built-in views
back to 'factory default'.