Re: [PATCH] Add a different prefix for past deadlines in the agenda view

[Matt Lundin <mdl@imapmail.org>]

Bastien <bzg@altern.org> writes:

> "Sebastien Vauban"
> <wxhgmqzgwmuf-geNee64TY+gS+FvcfC7Uqw@public.gmane.org> writes:
>
>> I think the change of width can impact people who customize a bit the look of
>> their agenda, and rely upong *all* the leaders to be of width 11. That was the
>> motivation for my other patch, about clocking info (to make it go into a
>> 11-char slot).
>
> The thread about your other patch is still open, see my last reply.
>
> Also, a width of 12 should make it easier to fix alignment issues,
> so feel free to have a go and fix the ones that disturb you.  Please
> remember not every user has a 3k configuration file, so implementing
> TRT with emacs -Q is highly recommended here :)

I just upgraded org-mode for the first time in a while and found these
new default settings for deadline and scheduled leaders somewhat
disorienting. 

A 12-char width causes misalignment with a sample file and emacs -Q.
(See output below).

Here is an example of the new default behavior with emacs -Q

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
Day-agenda (W12):
Sunday     24 March 2013
               8:00...... ----------------
  test:       10:00......  Scheduled:  TODO Scheduled at a time
  test:       10:00...... An appointment
              10:00...... ----------------
              12:00...... ----------------
              14:00...... ----------------
              16:00...... ----------------
              16:59...... now - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
              18:00...... ----------------
              20:00...... ----------------
  test:       Sched.  3x:  TODO A scheduled item
  test:        Scheduled:  TODO Another scheduled item
  test:         3 d. ago:  TODO An overdue item
  test:        In   2 d.:  Deadline
                          ^ 
                          Note the extra space here
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

And here is an example of the old default behavior (11 char. spacing):

--8<---------------cut here---------------start------------->8---
Day-agenda (W12):
Sunday     24 March 2013
               8:00...... ----------------
  test:       10:00...... Scheduled:  TODO Scheduled at a time
  test:       10:00...... An appointment
              10:00...... ----------------
              12:00...... ----------------
              14:00...... ----------------
              16:00...... ----------------
              17:06...... now - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
              18:00...... ----------------
              20:00...... ----------------
  test:       Sched. 3x:  TODO A scheduled item
  test:       Scheduled:  TODO Another scheduled item
  test:       In  -3 d.:  TODO An overdue item
  test:       In   2 d.:  Deadline
--8<---------------cut here---------------end--------------->8---

> For the change in "Scheduled:" and "Deadline:" it's because I think
> it's cleaner to align them on the right, like the "Sched." and "In
> %3d.:" strings.

FWIW, I find the old default much cleaner and easier to scan visually. I
know this can be customized, but might I suggest that we revert the
default to 11-characters and left aligned text?

Best,
Matt

P.S. Thanks, as always, Bastien for all the amazing work you've been
doing as maintainer!