Columns Switching Position when Moving Between Mailboxes

Question

I organize my mail with the "From" column first. I have done so since I first began using Mail. I find and recognize e-mail by sender. Lately whenever I switch to a mailbox that does not have the From column (or in which I do not need to see the From column), like Sent and drafts and then return to the Inbox, the From column is automatically moved to the end of my column views. Moving it back does no good as it relocates again the next time I look at a mailbox without it. I tried re-setting it, then quitting to preserve the settings, but one trip to Sent mail and the column relocates.
This is NEW behavior and if you ask me, buggy behavior. I count on my mail view being the way I left it last. Consistency is very important when you manage a lot of e-mail and this is definitely inconsistent and inconvenient.
Any ideas as to the problem?

Answer 1

Try going to the affected mailbox and then to the View menu.
Uncheck all boxes and the message will move to the left column.
Check the desired setting for the first column.
The column will show to the right of the message list.
Drag the subject heading to the right.
Now Quit mail.
This should save the preference.
Reopen mail and check.
If it doesn't work then create a new user in system preferences and set up your mail in the new user.
Test in the new user.
If it works in the new user move the com.apple.mail.plist from the user Library into the affected user and replace the plist with the one that works.
If it doesn't work in a new user either then you have a system wide issue.
That would require reinstalling Mail or the operating system.
If a reinstall is necessary use disk utility to determine if the system has any underlying problems first.
Go to disk utility and Verify Disk.
If it passes then pull the Mail program and reinstall it using the Optional Installs package on Install Disk 1.
Then download and install the 10.4.10 Combo update for intel from the Apple site.