- added to the application an older contribution by another user: Columnar Layout for the Preferences Tab. It can be set in Preferences -> General -> GUI section

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ CHANGELOG for FlatCAM beta
 
 =================================================
 
+12.03.2022
+
+- added to the application an older contribution by another user: Columnar Layout for the Preferences Tab. It can be set in Preferences -> General -> GUI section
+
 11.03.2022
 
 - added a new feature: now in the context menu (and main menu -> Edit) there is a new command that allow to move a selection of objects at specified numeric coordinates (either absolute or relative to current position) 

appGUI/ColumnarFlowLayout.py

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from PyQt6.QtCore import QRect, QSize, Qt
+from PyQt6 import QtWidgets
 from PyQt6.QtWidgets import QLayout
 import math
 
@@ -85,6 +86,7 @@ class ColumnarFlowLayout(QLayout):
         column_count = math.floor(rect.width() / (widest + spacing))
         column_count = min(column_count, len(self.itemList))
         column_count = max(1, column_count)
+        # TODO somehow this should be adjusted to introduce a kind of stretch to the right of the layout
         column_width = math.floor((rect.width() - (column_count-1)*spacing - 1) / column_count)
 
         # Get the heights for all of our items
@@ -179,3 +181,14 @@ class ColumnarFlowLayout(QLayout):
 
         # Return the overall height
         return max(column_heights)
+
+    def addStretch(self, val=None):
+        wdg = QtWidgets.QWidget()
+        wdg.setMinimumWidth(0)
+        return wdg
+
+    def addLayout(self, layout):
+        for idx in range(layout.count()):
+            wdg = layout.itemAt(idx).widget()
+            if wdg:
+                self.addWidget(wdg)

appGUI/MainGUI.py

@@ -1516,6 +1516,7 @@ class MainGUI(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         self.hlay1.addStretch()
 
         self.general_scroll_area = QtWidgets.QScrollArea()
+        self.general_scroll_area.setWidgetResizable(True)
         self.general_tab_lay.addWidget(self.general_scroll_area)
 
         self.gerber_tab = QtWidgets.QWidget()
@@ -1526,6 +1527,7 @@ class MainGUI(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         self.gerber_tab.setLayout(self.gerber_tab_lay)
 
         self.gerber_scroll_area = QtWidgets.QScrollArea()
+        self.gerber_scroll_area.setWidgetResizable(True)
         self.gerber_tab_lay.addWidget(self.gerber_scroll_area)
 
         self.excellon_tab = QtWidgets.QWidget()
@@ -1536,6 +1538,7 @@ class MainGUI(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         self.excellon_tab.setLayout(self.excellon_tab_lay)
 
         self.excellon_scroll_area = QtWidgets.QScrollArea()
+        self.excellon_scroll_area.setWidgetResizable(True)
         self.excellon_tab_lay.addWidget(self.excellon_scroll_area)
 
         self.geometry_tab = QtWidgets.QWidget()
@@ -1546,6 +1549,7 @@ class MainGUI(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         self.geometry_tab.setLayout(self.geometry_tab_lay)
 
         self.geometry_scroll_area = QtWidgets.QScrollArea()
+        self.geometry_scroll_area.setWidgetResizable(True)
         self.geometry_tab_lay.addWidget(self.geometry_scroll_area)
 
         self.text_editor_tab = QtWidgets.QWidget()
@@ -1556,6 +1560,7 @@ class MainGUI(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         self.text_editor_tab.setLayout(self.cncjob_tab_lay)
 
         self.cncjob_scroll_area = QtWidgets.QScrollArea()
+        self.cncjob_scroll_area.setWidgetResizable(True)
         self.cncjob_tab_lay.addWidget(self.cncjob_scroll_area)
 
         self.plugins_eng_tab = QtWidgets.QWidget()
@@ -1565,6 +1570,7 @@ class MainGUI(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         self.plugins_eng_tab.setLayout(self.plugins_eng_tab_lay)
 
         self.plugins_engraving_scroll_area = QtWidgets.QScrollArea()
+        self.plugins_engraving_scroll_area.setWidgetResizable(True)
         self.plugins_eng_tab_lay.addWidget(self.plugins_engraving_scroll_area)
 
         self.tools_tab = QtWidgets.QWidget()
@@ -1574,6 +1580,7 @@ class MainGUI(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         self.tools_tab.setLayout(self.tools_tab_lay)
 
         self.tools_scroll_area = QtWidgets.QScrollArea()
+        self.tools_scroll_area.setWidgetResizable(True)
         self.tools_tab_lay.addWidget(self.tools_scroll_area)
 
         self.tools2_tab = QtWidgets.QWidget()
@@ -1583,6 +1590,7 @@ class MainGUI(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         self.tools2_tab.setLayout(self.tools2_tab_lay)
 
         self.tools2_scroll_area = QtWidgets.QScrollArea()
+        self.tools2_scroll_area.setWidgetResizable(True)
         self.tools2_tab_lay.addWidget(self.tools2_scroll_area)
 
         self.fa_tab = QtWidgets.QWidget()
@@ -1593,6 +1601,7 @@ class MainGUI(QtWidgets.QMainWindow):
         self.fa_tab.setLayout(self.fa_tab_lay)
 
         self.fa_scroll_area = QtWidgets.QScrollArea()
+        self.fa_scroll_area.setWidgetResizable(True)
         self.fa_tab_lay.addWidget(self.fa_scroll_area)
 
         self.pref_tab_bottom_layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()

appGUI/preferences/PreferencesUIManager.py

@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ class PreferencesUIManager:
             "global_layout": self.ui.general_pref_form.general_gui_group.layout_combo,
             "global_hover_shape": self.ui.general_pref_form.general_gui_group.hover_cb,
             "global_selection_shape": self.ui.general_pref_form.general_gui_group.selection_cb,
+            "global_gui_layout": self.ui.general_pref_form.general_gui_group.gui_lay_combo,
 
             "global_sel_fill": self.ui.general_pref_form.general_gui_group.sf_color_entry,
             "global_sel_line": self.ui.general_pref_form.general_gui_group.sl_color_entry,

appGUI/preferences/cncjob/CNCJobOptPrefGroupUI.py

@@ -75,4 +75,4 @@ class CNCJobOptPrefGroupUI(OptionsGroupUI):
 
         gcode_grid.addWidget(self.annotation_cb, 2, 0, 1, 2)
 
-        # self.layout.addStretch()
+        self.layout.addStretch(2)

appGUI/preferences/cncjob/CNCJobPreferencesUI.py

@@ -6,11 +6,17 @@ from appGUI.preferences.cncjob.CNCJobGenPrefGroupUI import CNCJobGenPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.cncjob.CNCJobEditorPrefGroupUI import CNCJobEditorPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.cncjob.CNCJobPPGroupUI import CNCJobPPGroupUI
 
+from appGUI.ColumnarFlowLayout import ColumnarFlowLayout
+
+
 class CNCJobPreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
 
     def __init__(self, app, parent=None):
         QtWidgets.QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
-        self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        if app.defaults['global_gui_layout'] == 0:
+            self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        else:
+            self.layout = ColumnarFlowLayout()
         self.setLayout(self.layout)
 
         self.cncjob_gen_group = CNCJobGenPrefGroupUI(app=app)
@@ -31,6 +37,7 @@ class CNCJobPreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
         vlay.addWidget(self.cncjob_opt_group)
         vlay.addWidget(self.cncjob_adv_opt_group)
         vlay.addWidget(self.cncjob_pp_group)
+        vlay.addStretch()
 
         self.layout.addWidget(self.cncjob_gen_group)
         self.layout.addLayout(vlay)

appGUI/preferences/excellon/ExcellonPreferencesUI.py

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from appGUI.preferences.excellon.ExcellonAdvOptPrefGroupUI import ExcellonAdvOpt
 from appGUI.preferences.excellon.ExcellonOptPrefGroupUI import ExcellonOptPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.excellon.ExcellonGenPrefGroupUI import ExcellonGenPrefGroupUI
 
+from appGUI.ColumnarFlowLayout import ColumnarFlowLayout
+
 import gettext
 import appTranslation as fcTranslate
 import builtins
@@ -19,7 +21,10 @@ class ExcellonPreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
 
     def __init__(self, app, parent=None):
         QtWidgets.QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
-        self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        if app.defaults['global_gui_layout'] == 0:
+            self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        else:
+            self.layout = ColumnarFlowLayout()
         self.setLayout(self.layout)
 
         self.excellon_gen_group = ExcellonGenPrefGroupUI(app=app)

appGUI/preferences/general/GeneralGUIPrefGroupUI.py

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ from PyQt6 import QtWidgets, QtCore, QtGui
 from PyQt6.QtCore import QSettings
 
 from appGUI.GUIElements import RadioSet, FCCheckBox, FCComboBox, FCSliderWithSpinner, FCColorEntry, FCLabel, \
-    FCGridLayout, FCFrame
+    FCGridLayout, FCFrame, FCComboBox2
 from appGUI.preferences.OptionsGroupUI import OptionsGroupUI
 
 import gettext
@@ -129,6 +129,20 @@ class GeneralGUIPrefGroupUI(OptionsGroupUI):
         )
         grid0.addWidget(self.selection_cb, 12, 0, 1, 3)
 
+        # Select the GUI layout
+        self.ui_lay_lbl = FCLabel('%s:' % _('GUI Layout'))
+        self.ui_lay_lbl.setToolTip(
+            _("Select a GUI layout for the Preferences.\n"
+              "Can be:\n"
+              "'Normal' -> a normal and compact layout.\n"
+              "'Columnar' -> a layout the auto-adjust such\n"
+              "that columns are preferentially showed in columns")
+        )
+        self.gui_lay_combo = FCComboBox2()
+        self.gui_lay_combo.addItems([_("Normal"), _("Columnar")])
+        grid0.addWidget(self.ui_lay_lbl, 14, 0)
+        grid0.addWidget(self.gui_lay_combo, 14, 1, 1, 2)
+
         # #############################################################################################################
         # Grid1 Frame
         # #############################################################################################################

appGUI/preferences/general/GeneralPreferencesUI.py

@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ from appGUI.preferences.general.GeneralAppPrefGroupUI import GeneralAppPrefGroup
 from appGUI.preferences.general.GeneralAPPSetGroupUI import GeneralAPPSetGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.general.GeneralGUIPrefGroupUI import GeneralGUIPrefGroupUI
 
+from appGUI.ColumnarFlowLayout import ColumnarFlowLayout
+
 import gettext
 import appTranslation as fcTranslate
 import builtins
@@ -16,17 +18,23 @@ if '_' not in builtins.__dict__:
 class GeneralPreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
     def __init__(self, app, parent=None):
         QtWidgets.QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
-        self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        if app.defaults['global_gui_layout'] == 0:
+            self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        else:
+            self.layout = ColumnarFlowLayout()
         self.setLayout(self.layout)
 
         self.general_app_group = GeneralAppPrefGroupUI(app=app)
         self.general_app_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
+        # self.general_app_group.setMaximumWidth(250)
 
         self.general_gui_group = GeneralGUIPrefGroupUI(app=app)
         self.general_gui_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
+        # self.general_gui_group.setMaximumWidth(250)
 
         self.general_app_set_group = GeneralAPPSetGroupUI(app=app)
         self.general_app_set_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
+        # self.general_app_set_group.setMaximumWidth(250)
 
         self.layout.addWidget(self.general_app_group)
         self.layout.addWidget(self.general_gui_group)

appGUI/preferences/geometry/GeometryGenPrefGroupUI.py

@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class GeometryGenPrefGroupUI(OptionsGroupUI):
 
         FCGridLayout.set_common_column_size([plot_grid, opt_grid, obj_grid, fuse_grid], 0)
 
-        self.layout.addStretch()
+        self.layout.addStretch(1)
 
         current_platform = platform.architecture()[0]
         if current_platform == '64bit':

appGUI/preferences/geometry/GeometryPreferencesUI.py

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from appGUI.preferences.geometry.GeometryExpPrefGroupUI import GeometryExpPrefGr
 from appGUI.preferences.geometry.GeometryOptPrefGroupUI import GeometryOptPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.geometry.GeometryGenPrefGroupUI import GeometryGenPrefGroupUI
 
+from appGUI.ColumnarFlowLayout import ColumnarFlowLayout
+
 import gettext
 import appTranslation as fcTranslate
 import builtins
@@ -19,7 +21,10 @@ class GeometryPreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
 
     def __init__(self, app, parent=None):
         QtWidgets.QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
-        self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        if app.defaults['global_gui_layout'] == 0:
+            self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        else:
+            self.layout = ColumnarFlowLayout()
         self.setLayout(self.layout)
 
         self.geometry_gen_group = GeometryGenPrefGroupUI(app=app)
@@ -27,11 +32,11 @@ class GeometryPreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
         self.geometry_exp_group = GeometryExpPrefGroupUI(app=app)
         self.geometry_exp_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
         self.geometry_opt_group = GeometryOptPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.geometry_opt_group.setMinimumWidth(300)
+        self.geometry_opt_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
         self.geometry_adv_opt_group = GeometryAdvOptPrefGroupUI(app=app)
         self.geometry_adv_opt_group.setMinimumWidth(270)
         self.geometry_editor_group = GeometryEditorPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.geometry_editor_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
+        self.geometry_editor_group.setMinimumWidth(270)
 
         self.layout.addWidget(self.geometry_gen_group)
 

appGUI/preferences/gerber/GerberPreferencesUI.py

@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from appGUI.preferences.gerber.GerberAdvOptPrefGroupUI import GerberAdvOptPrefGr
 from appGUI.preferences.gerber.GerberOptPrefGroupUI import GerberOptPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.gerber.GerberGenPrefGroupUI import GerberGenPrefGroupUI
 
+from appGUI.ColumnarFlowLayout import ColumnarFlowLayout
+
 import gettext
 import appTranslation as fcTranslate
 import builtins
@@ -19,19 +21,22 @@ class GerberPreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
 
     def __init__(self, app, parent=None):
         QtWidgets.QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
-        self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        if app.defaults['global_gui_layout'] == 0:
+            self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        else:
+            self.layout = ColumnarFlowLayout()
         self.setLayout(self.layout)
 
         self.gerber_gen_group = GerberGenPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.gerber_gen_group.setMinimumWidth(200)
+        self.gerber_gen_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
         self.gerber_opt_group = GerberOptPrefGroupUI(app=app)
         self.gerber_opt_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
         self.gerber_exp_group = GerberExpPrefGroupUI(app=app)
         self.gerber_exp_group.setMinimumWidth(230)
         self.gerber_adv_opt_group = GerberAdvOptPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.gerber_adv_opt_group.setMinimumWidth(200)
+        self.gerber_adv_opt_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
         self.gerber_editor_group = GerberEditorPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.gerber_editor_group.setMinimumWidth(200)
+        self.gerber_editor_group.setMinimumWidth(270)
 
         self.vlay = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout()
         self.vlay.addWidget(self.gerber_opt_group)

appGUI/preferences/tools/Plugins2PreferencesUI.py

@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ from appGUI.preferences.tools.Tools2QRCodePrefGroupUI import Tools2QRCodePrefGro
 from appGUI.preferences.tools.Tools2OptimalPrefGroupUI import Tools2OptimalPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.tools.Tools2RulesCheckPrefGroupUI import Tools2RulesCheckPrefGroupUI
 
+from appGUI.ColumnarFlowLayout import ColumnarFlowLayout
+
 import gettext
 import appTranslation as fcTranslate
 import builtins
@@ -22,35 +24,38 @@ class Plugins2PreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
 
     def __init__(self,app, parent=None):
         QtWidgets.QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
-        self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        if app.defaults['global_gui_layout'] == 0:
+            self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        else:
+            self.layout = ColumnarFlowLayout()
         self.setLayout(self.layout)
 
         self.tools2_checkrules_group = Tools2RulesCheckPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools2_checkrules_group.setMinimumWidth(150)
+        self.tools2_checkrules_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools2_optimal_group = Tools2OptimalPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools2_optimal_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools2_optimal_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools2_qrcode_group = Tools2QRCodePrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools2_qrcode_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools2_qrcode_group.setMinimumWidth(280)
 
         self.tools2_cfill_group = Tools2CThievingPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools2_cfill_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools2_cfill_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools2_fiducials_group = Tools2FiducialsPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools2_fiducials_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools2_fiducials_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools2_cal_group = Tools2CalPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools2_cal_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools2_cal_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools2_edrills_group = Tools2EDrillsPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools2_edrills_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools2_edrills_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools2_punch_group = Tools2PunchGerberPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools2_punch_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools2_punch_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools2_invert_group = Tools2InvertPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools2_invert_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools2_invert_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.vlay = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout()
         self.vlay.addWidget(self.tools2_checkrules_group)

appGUI/preferences/tools/PluginsEngravingPreferencesUI.py

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ from appGUI.preferences.tools.ToolsNCCPrefGroupUI import ToolsNCCPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.tools.ToolsPaintPrefGroupUI import ToolsPaintPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.tools.ToolsISOPrefGroupUI import ToolsISOPrefGroupUI
 
+from appGUI.ColumnarFlowLayout import ColumnarFlowLayout
+
 import gettext
 import appTranslation as fcTranslate
 import builtins
@@ -20,23 +22,26 @@ class PluginsEngravingPreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
 
     def __init__(self, app, parent=None):
         QtWidgets.QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
-        self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        if app.defaults['global_gui_layout'] == 0:
+            self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        else:
+            self.layout = ColumnarFlowLayout()
         self.setLayout(self.layout)
 
         self.tools_iso_group = ToolsISOPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_iso_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools_iso_group.setMinimumWidth(270)
 
         self.tools_ncc_group = ToolsNCCPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_ncc_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools_ncc_group.setMinimumWidth(270)
 
         self.tools_paint_group = ToolsPaintPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_paint_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools_paint_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_2sided_group = Tools2sidedPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_2sided_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools_2sided_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_level_group = ToolsLevelPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_level_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools_level_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.vlay = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout()
         self.vlay.addWidget(self.tools_iso_group)

appGUI/preferences/tools/PluginsPreferencesUI.py

@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ from appGUI.preferences.tools.ToolsFilmPrefGroupUI import ToolsFilmPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.tools.ToolsCutoutPrefGroupUI import ToolsCutoutPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.tools.ToolsDrillPrefGroupUI import ToolsDrillPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.tools.ToolsMillPrefGroupUI import ToolsMillPrefGroupUI
+
+from appGUI.ColumnarFlowLayout import ColumnarFlowLayout
+
 import gettext
 import appTranslation as fcTranslate
 import builtins
@@ -26,38 +29,41 @@ class PluginsPreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
 
     def __init__(self, app, parent=None):
         QtWidgets.QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
-        self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        if app.defaults['global_gui_layout'] == 0:
+            self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        else:
+            self.layout = ColumnarFlowLayout()
         self.setLayout(self.layout)
 
         self.tools_drill_group = ToolsDrillPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_drill_group.setMinimumWidth(180)
+        self.tools_drill_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_mill_group = ToolsMillPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_mill_group.setMinimumWidth(180)
+        self.tools_mill_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_cutout_group = ToolsCutoutPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_cutout_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools_cutout_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_film_group = ToolsFilmPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_film_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools_film_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_panelize_group = ToolsPanelizePrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_panelize_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools_panelize_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_calculators_group = ToolsCalculatorsPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_calculators_group.setMinimumWidth(220)
+        self.tools_calculators_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_transform_group = ToolsTransformPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_transform_group.setMinimumWidth(200)
+        self.tools_transform_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_solderpaste_group = ToolsSolderpastePrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_solderpaste_group.setMinimumWidth(200)
+        self.tools_solderpaste_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_markers_group = ToolsMarkersPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_markers_group.setMinimumWidth(200)
+        self.tools_markers_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.tools_sub_group = ToolsSubPrefGroupUI(app=app)
-        self.tools_sub_group.setMinimumWidth(200)
+        self.tools_sub_group.setMinimumWidth(250)
 
         self.vlay = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout()
         self.vlay.addWidget(self.tools_drill_group)

appGUI/preferences/tools/ToolsISOPrefGroupUI.py

@@ -359,4 +359,4 @@ class ToolsISOPrefGroupUI(OptionsGroupUI):
 
         FCGridLayout.set_common_column_size([par_grid, tool_grid, gen_grid], 0)
 
-        # self.layout.addStretch()
+        self.layout.addStretch(1)

appGUI/preferences/tools/ToolsNCCPrefGroupUI.py

@@ -357,4 +357,4 @@ class ToolsNCCPrefGroupUI(OptionsGroupUI):
 
         FCGridLayout.set_common_column_size([par_grid, tool_grid, gen_grid], 0)
 
-        # self.layout.addStretch()
+        self.layout.addStretch(1)

appGUI/preferences/utilities/UtilPreferencesUI.py

@@ -6,12 +6,17 @@ from appGUI.preferences.utilities.FAGrbPrefGroupUI import FAGrbPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.utilities.FAGcoPrefGroupUI import FAGcoPrefGroupUI
 from appGUI.preferences.utilities.FAExcPrefGroupUI import FAExcPrefGroupUI
 
+from appGUI.ColumnarFlowLayout import ColumnarFlowLayout
+
 
 class UtilPreferencesUI(QtWidgets.QWidget):
 
     def __init__(self, app, parent=None):
         QtWidgets.QWidget.__init__(self, parent=parent)
-        self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        if app.defaults['global_gui_layout'] == 0:
+            self.layout = QtWidgets.QHBoxLayout()
+        else:
+            self.layout = ColumnarFlowLayout()
         self.setLayout(self.layout)
 
         self.fa_excellon_group = FAExcPrefGroupUI(app=app)

defaults.py

@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ class AppDefaults:
         "global_move_ref": 'abs',
 
         "global_toolbar_view": 511,
+        "global_gui_layout": 0,  # can be 0:"normal" or 1:"columnar"
 
         "global_background_timeout": 300000,  # Default value is 5 minutes
         "global_verbose_error_level": 0,  # Shell verbosity 0 = default