Hi Robin, the function must return the string that you'd like to have  
inserted as the value in the column.  For example, to get the time,  
use something like (untested)

(defun my-org-column-cleaner (title value)
    (cond
      ((equal title "TIME")
       (if (and value (>= (length value) 20))
           (substring value 15 20)
          nil ; there was no value, or it was a short string
          ))
       (t nil)))
(setq org-columns-modify-value-for-display-function 'my-org-column- 
cleaner)

HTH

- Carsten

On Jul 27, 2008, at 6:03 AM, Jose Robins wrote:

> Hi Carsten,
> Thank you so much. Here is a dumb question. What is the return value  
> datatype and the value for the function? Right now I'm running  
> edebug to trace what is going on there to figure this out....
>
> Thanks,
> Jose
>
> Carsten Dominik wrote:
>>
>> If you get the latest git version,  take a look at the variable
>> `org-columns-modify-value-for-display-function'.
>>
>> HTH
>>
>> - Carsten
>>
>> On Jul 25, 2008, at 5:33 AM, Jose Robins wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Carsten Dominik wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi Robin,
>>>>
>>>> On Jul 23, 2008, at 9:57 AM, Jose Robins wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I've been extensively using column mode in the agenda buffer to  
>>>>> plan my day/week. I have columns set up for scheduled and  
>>>>> deadline. However, I was wondering if it'd be possible to expose  
>>>>> just the "time" part of the scheduled timestamp as a property so  
>>>>> that I could have a column for the time part of the timestamp  
>>>>> (without the date). This would allow one to look @ the daily  
>>>>> agenda and schedule time for tasks with just that column without  
>>>>> bothering about the date (after all I'm already in today's  
>>>>> agenda; so there is no need to see the date).
>>>>
>>>> This would in principle be possible of course, basically a filter  
>>>> when displaying the column.
>>> Hi Carsten,
>>> Would this filter be something that would be done on the source  
>>> end? If so, would you consider adding it? :)
>>>
>>> The GoogleTech talk has inspired me to start hacking into the  
>>> source code a bit and contributing back. As a baby step, I'm  
>>> thinking about modifying the column view to display custom date  
>>> formats for the date column. Any pointers on getting me going on  
>>> this?
>>>
>>> Thanks mucho,
>>> Jose
>>>
>>>> But
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Also if it'd be possible to sort the column view based on that  
>>>>> column's contents it'd be great. That way, all the tasks will be  
>>>>> sorted based on the time of the day that the task has been  
>>>>> scheduled for. I guess I'm trying to use the column view similar  
>>>>> to the time grid.
>>>>
>>>> This does not make sense becaue column view still uses the  
>>>> outline structure of your file.  Why don't you just use the  
>>>> agenda or a timeline view for this?
>>>>
>>>> - Carsten
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Not sure if others' sort of planning methodology would benefit  
>>>>> from this or not. I'm open to other ideas  that folks may feel  
>>>>> is more efficient for achieving this as well.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Jose
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>
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