Adaptive column selection

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

obtaining a size of a display area;

obtaining column descriptors, each column descriptor identifying a column and a column width;

determining a set of columns to present, comprising:

comparing the column width of a column to an available size remaining in the display area, and

including the column in the set in response to determining that the column width is less than the available size;

in response to determining that the column width is more than the available size:

checking a value associated with the column to determine whether the column can be clipped;

in response to determining that the column can be clipped adjusting the column width to the available size; and

in response to determining that the column cannot be clipped hiding the column;

calculating an aggregate width of all the columns in the set;

allocating a portion of the size of the display area to each column in the set of columns based on a ratio of width of the respective column and the aggregate width; and

presenting the columns in the set of columns on the display area.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adjusting the column width of the column by a column padding factor.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sorting the column descriptors based on a priority associated with each column.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining to include a column in the set based on a priority associated with of the column.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining to include the column comprises determining that available space exceeds a squeeze threshold that defines a minimum length to be allocated to a clipped column.

6. A non-transitory computer storage medium encoded with computer program instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

determining a set of columns to present, comprising:

comparing the column width of a column to an available size remaining in the display area, and

including the column in the set in response to determining that the column width is less than the available size;

in response to determining that the column width is more than the available size:

checking a value associated with the column to determine whether the column can be clipped;

in response to determining that the column can be clipped adjusting the column width to the available size; and

in response to determining that the column cannot be clipped hiding the column;

calculating an aggregate width of all the columns in the set;

allocating a portion of the size of the display area to each column in the set of columns based on a ratio of width of the respective column and the aggregate width; and

presenting the columns in the set of columns on the display area.

7. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 6 , further comprising adjusting the column width of the column by a column padding factor.

8. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 6 , further comprising sorting the column descriptors based on a priority associated with each column.

9. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 6 , further comprising determining to include a column in the set based on a priority associated with of the column.

10. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 6 , wherein determining to include the column comprises determining that available space exceeds a squeeze threshold that defines a minimum length to be allocated to a clipped column.

11. A system comprising:

one or more computers and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more computers, to cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

obtaining a size of a display area;

obtaining column descriptors, each column descriptor identifying a column and a column width;

determining a set of columns to present, comprising:

comparing the column width of a column to an available size remaining in the display area, and

including the column in the set in response to determining that the column width is less than the available size;

in response to determining that the column width is more than the available size:

checking a value associated with the column to determine whether the column can be clipped;

in response to determining that the column can be clipped adjusting the column width to the available size; and

in response to determining that the column cannot be clipped hiding the column;

calculating an aggregate width of all the columns in the set;

allocating a portion of the size of the display area to each column in the set of columns based on a ratio of width of the respective column and the aggregate width; and

presenting the columns in the set of columns on the display area.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising adjusting the column width of the column by a column padding factor.

13. The system of claim 11 , further comprising sorting the column descriptors based on a priority associated with each column.

14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising determining to include a column in the set based on a priority associated with of the column.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein determining to include the column comprises determining that available space exceeds a squeeze threshold that defines a minimum length to be allocated to a clipped column.