Document v1.43 and fix release metadata

updated version strings now corrected
chore: update AUR packages to v1.43.0 [skip ci]
2026-09-11 11:45:27 +02:00 · 2026-09-03 23:42:17 +02:00 · 2026-09-03 22:31:05 +02:00 · 2026-09-03 20:23:04 +00:00 · 2026-09-03 22:20:26 +02:00 · 2026-09-03 22:16:23 +02:00
33 changed files with 1624 additions and 174 deletions
@@ -786,45 +786,45 @@ jobs:
            release-assets/macos/KST4Contest-${{ github.ref_name }}-macos-*.dmg,
            release-assets/docs/KST4Contest-${{ github.ref_name }}-manual-en.pdf,
            release-assets/docs/KST4Contest-${{ github.ref_name }}-manual-de.pdf
-            
-            # The update feed is generated only after GitHub has published the
-            # release. Otherwise the Releases API cannot return the release notes
-            # belonging to the tag which triggered this workflow.
-            - name: Set up Node.js for website build
-              uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-              with:
-                node-version: "24"
-                cache: npm
-                cache-dependency-path: website/package-lock.json

-            - name: Build and validate website after release publication
-              working-directory: website
-              run: |
-                npm ci
-                npm test
-                npm run build
-              env:
-                GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+      # The update feed is generated only after GitHub has published the
+      # release. Otherwise the Releases API cannot return the release notes
+      # belonging to the tag which triggered this workflow.
+      - name: Set up Node.js for website build
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: "24"
+          cache: npm
+          cache-dependency-path: website/package-lock.json

-            - name: Verify Stable release in update feed
-              if: ${{ !startsWith(github.ref_name, 'beta-') }}
-              working-directory: website
-              run: npm run validate:version-info
-              env:
-                EXPECTED_STABLE_VERSION: ${{ github.ref_name }}
+      - name: Build and validate website after release publication
+        working-directory: website
+        run: |
+          npm ci
+          npm test
+          npm run build
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

-            - name: Attach verified version info to tagged release
-              run: >-
-                gh release upload "${GITHUB_REF_NAME}"
-                website/_site/kst4ContestVersionInfo.xml
-                --clobber
-              env:
-                GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+      - name: Verify Stable release in update feed
+        if: ${{ !startsWith(github.ref_name, 'beta-') }}
+        working-directory: website
+        run: npm run validate:version-info
+        env:
+          EXPECTED_STABLE_VERSION: ${{ github.ref_name }}

-            - name: Upload verified website artifact
-              uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4.3.4
-              with:
-                name: kst4contest-website-${{ github.ref_name }}
-                path: website/_site/
-                if-no-files-found: error
-                retention-days: 14
+      - name: Attach verified version info to tagged release
+        run: >-
+          gh release upload "${GITHUB_REF_NAME}"
+          website/_site/kst4ContestVersionInfo.xml
+          --clobber
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
+
+      - name: Upload verified website artifact
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4.3.4
+        with:
+          name: kst4contest-website-${{ github.ref_name }}
+          path: website/_site/
+          if-no-files-found: error
+          retention-days: 14
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # KST4Contest Project Context

-Last reviewed: 2026-09-02
+Last reviewed: 2026-09-03

 This file is the durable technical project context for KST4Contest. It is not a user manual and not a replacement for the changelog. Current code, tests and authoritative external specifications remain the source of truth when this document is stale or ambiguous.

@@ -50,6 +50,17 @@ JavaFX ObservableList / UI state

 `MessageBusManagementThread` must not directly iterate or mutate UI-bound JavaFX collections. UI-visible changes should cross the controller/UI boundary and run on the JavaFX Application Thread.

+## Configuration and Layout Persistence
+
+- The current `preferences.xml` configuration version is 7. Version 6 introduced optional managed leaf-column widths below `guiOptions`, identified by stable table and column IDs. Parent-column widths remain derived from their leaf columns.
+- `GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled` is a layout preference below `guiOptions`. It defaults to `true`, is selectively autosaved and controls only screen-based clustering of nearby map markers. Missing or malformed values retain the enabled default for backward compatibility.
+- Stored widths take precedence. Without a usable entry, a managed column is sized once when meaningful table data first becomes available. Message and similar free-text columns use a flexible initial width instead of following the longest value.
+- Main-window and separate-monitor DXCluster/QSO tables use distinct layout IDs even though they share the underlying message stores.
+- Window sizes and positions, relevant divider positions and managed column widths are selectively autosaved after a short debounce. A pending write is flushed during application shutdown.
+- Selective layout writes update the XML already on disk, preserve unknown XML nodes and must not persist unconfirmed functional settings from the current UI. **Save Settings** remains the full settings writer and includes the current layout.
+- Full and selective writes are synchronized and replace `preferences.xml` atomically. Missing, unknown or malformed width entries do not prevent loading and fall back to initial sizing.
+- Older configuration files require no migration. Older KST4Contest versions can ignore the additional elements; a complete rewrite by such a version may discard column widths without invalidating the remaining file.
+
 ## External Interfaces

 Treat current implementation/tests and authoritative upstream documentation as source of truth before modifying any interface.
@@ -116,6 +127,8 @@ CR/LF framing, XML framing, ports/transports, callsign normalization and frequen
 - Contest operating speed and low-friction interaction are primary goals.
 - Incidental code changes must not unexpectedly change selection, focus, sorting, tab state, map zoom or prefilled text.
 - Map reset clears the selected target without changing zoom unless explicitly redesigned.
+- **Group nearby stations** re-renders only the existing station-marker layer from JavaScript `stationData`. It must not reload the WebView, tiles or station data, request a new controller snapshot, or change zoom, viewport or selection.
+- Base-callsign aggregation into one geographical marker happens before screen-based clustering. Disabling clustering displays each resulting positionable map station individually but never splits active variants of the same normalised base callsign into separate geographical markers.
 - Station selection preserves the established `/cq callsign` prefill behaviour.
 - Sending without an explicitly selected send category preserves the established Main-category fallback unless explicitly changed.

@@ -149,6 +162,10 @@ The repository contains the KST4Contest website under `website/`, published sepa

 Current website/deployment scripts and update-feed behaviour must be inspected before changes; do not rely on historical assumptions.

+- `APPLICATION_CURRENT_VERSION` is the user-visible semantic version and must use the dotted `major.minor.patch` form. `APPLICATION_CURRENTVERSIONNUMBER` is retained only for older feeds and encodes patch releases by appending the patch digit, for example `1.43.1` as `1.431`.
+- The tagged-release workflow creates the GitHub Release before building the website update feed. This ordering is required because `versionInfo.js` reads the published release body through the GitHub Releases API.
+- After publication, the workflow tests and builds the website, validates the expected Stable version, attaches `kst4ContestVersionInfo.xml` to the release and uploads the complete website build as a workflow artifact.
+
 ## Important Decisions and Workarounds

 - Preserve full callsign/category identity while applying base-call normalisation only to specifically defined features.
@@ -174,6 +191,7 @@ Before implementing planned items, re-check current decisions and obtain a fresh
 - Historical project context is useful but may be stale; current code/tests win.
 - External service/API behaviour must be verified against current upstream documentation when uncertain.
 - Screenshots in manuals/website may need targeted replacement after visible UI changes; never fabricate them.
+- `station_map_path_analysis.png` and `station_map_reset.png` predate the **Group nearby stations** checkbox in the map header. Replace them with current screenshots when suitable source images are available; the website reuses `station_map_path_analysis.png` through `/manual/assets/`.

 ## Recent Significant Changes

@@ -152,7 +152,15 @@ Der Wert beeinflusst unter anderem:

 ---

-## Nachrichtentabellen
+## Tabellenbreiten und gekürzte Zellinhalte
+
+Beim ersten brauchbaren Datenbestand richtet KST4Contest die Spalten der Benutzerliste, der Nachrichtenansichten, der DXCluster- und QSO-Tabellen sowie der Worked-Datenbank einmalig nach Überschrift und vorhandenem Inhalt aus. Bereits gespeicherte Breiten haben Vorrang. **Name**, **AP** und **NOT QRV @** werden dabei begrenzt, damit einzelne lange Werte nicht den restlichen Tabellenbereich verdrängen. **Message** und vergleichbare Freitextspalten bleiben flexibel und richten sich nicht nach der längsten Nachricht.
+
+Manuell geänderte Spaltenbreiten werden automatisch gespeichert und beim nächsten Start wiederhergestellt. Spätere Nachrichten oder Stationsaktualisierungen überschreiben diese Auswahl nicht.
+
+Passt ein normaler Textwert nicht vollständig in seine Zelle, zeigt ein Tooltip den vollständigen Wert. Der Tooltip erscheint nur bei tatsächlich gekürztem Text. Funktionale Tooltips, etwa für QRA-, Worked- oder Bandzustände, bleiben erhalten; bei gekürztem Zelltext stehen Volltext und Erklärung gemeinsam im Tooltip.
+
+### Nachrichtentext und Links

 KST4Contest zeigt Nachrichtentexte bewusst einzeilig an. So bleiben auch bei hohem Chat-Aufkommen viele Einträge gleichzeitig sichtbar. Der Nachteil liegt auf der Hand: Bei einer schmalen **Message**-Spalte passt nicht jede Nachricht vollständig in die Zeile.

@@ -327,7 +335,11 @@ Ein einzelner Stationsmarker kann direkt angeklickt werden. KST4Contest:
 3. aktualisiert den **Further Info**-Bereich und
 4. bereitet das vollständige sichtbare Rufzeichen als `/cq`-Empfänger vor.

-Marker, die bei der aktuellen Zoomstufe zu dicht beieinanderliegen, werden als Cluster mit einer Stationsanzahl dargestellt. Ein Klick auf einen Cluster vergrößert den betreffenden Kartenausschnitt. Erst ein anschließend sichtbarer einzelner Marker wählt eine konkrete Station aus.
+Ist **Group nearby stations** ausgewählt, werden Marker, die bei niedrigen Zoomstufen zu dicht beieinanderliegen, als Cluster mit einer Stationsanzahl dargestellt. Ein Klick auf einen Cluster vergrößert den betreffenden Kartenausschnitt. Erst ein anschließend sichtbarer einzelner Marker wählt eine konkrete Station aus. Wird die Checkbox ausgeschaltet, zeigt die Karte unabhängig von der Zoomstufe alle positionierbaren Stationen als einzelne Marker.
+
+Das Umschalten wirkt sofort und verändert weder Zoom noch Kartenausschnitt oder Stationsauswahl. Die Einstellung wird automatisch gespeichert und beim nächsten Programmstart wiederhergestellt. Ohne gespeicherte Einstellung bleibt **Group nearby stations** ausgewählt, damit bestehende Installationen zunächst das bisherige Verhalten behalten.
+
+Der Schalter betrifft nur die räumlichen Cluster auf dem Bildschirm. Aktive Chatvarianten desselben normalisierten Basisrufzeichens können weiterhin einen gemeinsamen geografischen Marker verwenden und bleiben unabhängig davon getrennte Nachrichtenziele.

 Die Kopfzeile ergänzt bei ausgewählter Station:

@@ -432,7 +444,7 @@ Zusätzlich öffnet KST4Contest das Fenster **Cluster & QSO of the other**. Es z

 ![Separates Cluster- und QSO-Monitorfenster](cluster_qso_monitor.png)

-Die Position des vertikalen Dividers sowie die Fenstergröße werden zusammen mit den übrigen UI-Einstellungen gespeichert. Nach einer Änderung **Save Settings** verwenden.
+Die Position des vertikalen Dividers sowie die Fenstergröße werden automatisch gespeichert. Die DXCluster- und QSO-Tabellen besitzen hier eigene Spaltenbreiten; Änderungen im Monitorfenster verändern daher nicht das Tabellenlayout der Hauptfenster-Tabs.

 Das Fenster lässt sich über das Menü aus- und wieder einblenden:

@@ -478,13 +490,13 @@ Die serverbezogenen Funktionen sind nur bei vollständig aufgebauter ON4KST-Verb

 ## Fenstergrößen und Divider

-Beim Klick auf **Save Settings** speichert KST4Contest die Größen der Programmfenster und die Positionen der relevanten Divider in der Konfigurationsdatei. Diese Werte werden beim nächsten Programmstart wiederverwendet.
+KST4Contest speichert Größen und Positionen der Programmfenster, die relevanten Divider sowie manuell geänderte Tabellenbreiten automatisch nach einer kurzen Verzögerung in der Konfigurationsdatei. Ein ausstehender Layoutstand wird beim Programmende noch geschrieben. **Save Settings** ist dafür nicht erforderlich, speichert aber weiterhin den vollständigen aktuellen Stand einschließlich Layout.

 Das Hauptfenster wird beim Start zusätzlich gegen den sichtbaren Bereich des primären Bildschirms geprüft. Ist die gespeicherte Größe zu groß, verkleinert und verschiebt KST4Contest das Fenster so, dass es wieder erreichbar bleibt. Die genaue Herleitung ist unter [Bildschirmgerechte Größe des Hauptfensters](de-Funktionen#bildschirmgerechte-größe-des-hauptfensters-ab-v141) beschrieben.

-Für die übrigen Programmfenster gilt diese zusätzliche Größenbegrenzung derzeit nicht. Wird beispielsweise das separate Monitorfenster nach einem Wechsel auf einen kleineren Bildschirm zu groß dargestellt, muss seine Größe manuell korrigiert und anschließend erneut mit **Save Settings** gespeichert werden.
+Für die übrigen Programmfenster gilt diese zusätzliche Größenbegrenzung derzeit nicht. Wird beispielsweise das separate Monitorfenster nach einem Wechsel auf einen kleineren Bildschirm zu groß dargestellt, genügt eine manuelle Korrektur; die neue Größe wird automatisch gespeichert.

-Bei einer ungünstigen Aufteilung sollten zuerst die Divider an eine brauchbare Position verschoben und die Einstellungen erneut gespeichert werden. Das Löschen der Konfigurationsdatei setzt zwar die UI-Werte zurück, entfernt aber auch die übrigen gespeicherten Programmeinstellungen und sollte deshalb nur verwendet werden, wenn sich die Oberfläche auf anderem Weg nicht mehr herstellen lässt.
+Bei einer ungünstigen Aufteilung sollten zuerst die Divider und Spaltenbreiten wieder an brauchbare Positionen verschoben werden. Das Löschen der Konfigurationsdatei setzt zwar die UI-Werte zurück, entfernt aber auch die übrigen gespeicherten Programmeinstellungen und sollte deshalb nur verwendet werden, wenn sich die Oberfläche auf anderem Weg nicht mehr herstellen lässt.

 ---

@@ -8,6 +8,72 @@ Die veröffentlichten Stable-Versionen und ihre Programmpakete stehen unter [Git

 ---

+## v1.43.1 (2026-09-03)
+
+**Korrigierte Versionsmetadaten**
+
+v1.43.1 enthält dieselben funktionalen Änderungen wie v1.43.0. Korrigiert wurden die Anwendungs- und Build-Metadaten für Anzeige, ON4KST-Kennung und Update-Vergleich. Ein Teil der Metadaten des ersten v1.43.0-Pakets wies den Build noch als Version 1.42 aus.
+
+### Behoben
+
+- **Einheitliche semantische Version:** Die sichtbare Anwendungsversion verwendet jetzt vollständig `1.43.1`. Der kompakte Wert `1.431` bleibt ausschließlich im veralteten numerischen Feld für die Kompatibilität mit älteren Update-Feeds erhalten.
+
+- **Update-Feed im Tagged-Release-Workflow:** Website-Build, Prüfung des Versionsfeeds und Upload der Artefakte laufen jetzt tatsächlich nach der Veröffentlichung des GitHub Releases. Diese Schritte waren zuvor versehentlich in die Artefaktliste der Release-Action eingerückt und wurden deshalb übersprungen.
+
+Wer v1.43.0 installiert hat, sollte v1.43.1 verwenden. Die Funktionen bleiben unverändert; korrigiert werden nur die Versionsmetadaten und der Release-Workflow.
+
+Die korrigierte Version ist als [Release v1.43.1](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/tag/v1.43.1) verfügbar.
+
+---
+
+## v1.43.0 (2026-09-03)
+
+**Zuverlässigere Log-Synchronisation, gespeicherte Tabellenlayouts und bessere DX-Cluster-Kompatibilität**
+
+v1.43 konzentriert sich auf die zuverlässige Verarbeitung externer Logdaten und den stabilen Betrieb während längerer Conteste. Hinzu kommen praktische Einstellmöglichkeiten für Tabellenlayouts und die Stationsgruppierung auf der Karte.
+
+### Neu
+
+- **Optionale Kartencluster:** **Group nearby stations** schaltet die räumliche Gruppierung bei niedrigen Zoomstufen unmittelbar ein oder aus. Die gespeicherte Auswahl verändert weder Kartenausschnitt noch Stationsauswahl; die Zusammenfassung aktiver Varianten desselben Basisrufzeichens bleibt davon unabhängig. Damit ist [Issue #79](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/issues/79) umgesetzt.
+
+- **Tabellenlayout automatisch gesichert:** Tabellen erhalten beim ersten brauchbaren Inhalt sinnvolle Breiten. Manuell geänderte Spaltenbreiten, Fenstergrößen und relevante Divider werden nach kurzer Verzögerung in `preferences.xml` geschrieben. Haupt- und Monitorfenster behalten getrennte Layouts für DXCluster und QSO of the other.
+
+- **Tooltips für gekürzte Tabellenwerte:** Normale Tabellenzellen zeigen ihren vollständigen Inhalt, wenn die sichtbare Spalte zu schmal ist. Funktionale Tooltips und anklickbare Links bleiben davon unberührt.
+
+- **Hinweis bei neu angelegtem Simplelogfile:** Fehlt die ausgewählte Datei, legt KST4Contest sie an und zeigt einen Hinweis mit Dateipfad, konkretem Testablauf und Link zum passenden Abschnitt des Handbuchs.
+
+### Geändert
+
+- **Robuste Simplelogfile-Auswertung:** Die ausgewählte Datei wird einmal pro Minute ausgewertet und nach jedem Durchlauf geschlossen, damit das Logprogramm sie ersetzen oder rotieren kann. Erkannte Rufzeichen setzen den globalen Worked-Status für alle aktiven Suffixvarianten des Basisrufzeichens. Bei deaktivierter Funktion findet kein Dateizugriff statt; Lese- oder Erstellungsfehler beenden die periodische Aufgabe nicht mehr.
+
+- **Einheitliche Bandwerte externer Logger:** UCXLog-kompatible Pakete und Win-Test-Ereignisse verwenden eine gemeinsame Bandnormalisierung. Numerische Werte, Meter- und Zentimeterangaben sowie die vorhandenen Win-Test-IDs setzen damit dieselben Worked-Markierungen und Worked-Großfelder. Insbesondere `2320`, `5760` und `10368` werden zuverlässig verarbeitet; bei fehlendem oder unbekanntem Band wird nur der globale Worked-Status gesetzt.
+
+- **Kompakte vollständige Frequenzen erkannt:** Vollständige Frequenzangaben ohne Dezimaltrenner werden auf allen unterstützten Bändern akzeptiert; die letzten drei Ziffern bilden den kHz-Anteil. Nackte dreistellige Zahlen benötigen weiterhin einen erkennbaren Frequenzkontext, damit Signalrapporte und andere Zahlen nicht als QRG behandelt werden.
+
+- **DXSpider-kompatibles Spotformat:** Lokale DX-Cluster-Spots verwenden eine feste 75-Zeichen-Nutzzeile mit dem DX-Rufzeichen ab Spalte 27, einem 30 Zeichen breiten Kommentarfeld und der UTC-Zeit ab Spalte 71. Das Format bleibt bis 24 GHz stabil. Überlange DX-Rufzeichen werden verworfen und protokolliert, statt unbemerkt abgeschnitten zu werden. Damit ist [Issue #86](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/issues/86) behoben.
+
+- **Aktive ON4KST-Verbindungsprüfung:** Ein ruhiger Chatserver wird mit einer expliziten, sitzungsweiten Abfrage geprüft, bevor die Verbindung als unterbrochen gilt. Heartbeat und Prüftelegramme behalten das erforderliche CR/LF-Framing.
+
+- **Zuverlässige Altersmarkierung privater Nachrichten:** Eingehende Privatnachrichten verwenden bis zu fünf Minuten lang die definierten grünen Altersstufen. Eigene Nachrichten behalten ihre separate Darstellung; leere oder wiederverwendete Tabellenzeilen kehren zum normalen Design zurück und behalten keine veraltete Hervorhebung.
+
+### Behoben
+
+- **Worked-Status nach dem Login:** Persistierte SQLite-Informationen werden vor der Veröffentlichung jeder initialen ON4KST-Benutzerliste geladen und angewendet. Erneute Verbindungen, beide Kategorien und alle aktiven Varianten eines Basisrufzeichens starten dadurch mit dem richtigen Status. Damit ist [Issue #85](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/issues/85) behoben.
+
+- **Fehlerhafte Trennung bei ruhigem Server:** Eine gültige ON4KST-Verbindung wird nicht mehr beendet, nur weil der Server gerade keine Aktivitätszeilen überträgt.
+
+### Dokumentation und Auslieferung
+
+- Das deutsche und englische Handbuch wurden mit der Implementierung abgeglichen und überarbeitet. Ein neues Kapitel zum Contest-Workflow verbindet die einzelnen Funktionen zu einem praktischen Betriebsablauf; außerdem wurden die Abschnitte zu Dual Chat, Privatnachrichten, QRG-Synchronisation, Simplelogfile-Auswertung und Konfiguration präzisiert.
+
+- Die Website beschreibt Band- und Richtungsgelegenheiten, Stationskarte, QRG-Verarbeitung, Filter, globale Nachrichtenansichten, Privatnachrichten und Log-Synchronisation jetzt ausführlicher.
+
+- Die AUR-Paketdefinitionen wurden auf v1.43.0 aktualisiert.
+
+Die vollständige Funktionalität von v1.43.0 steht im [Release v1.43.0](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/tag/v1.43.0) bereit. Wegen der inkonsistenten eingebetteten Versionsmetadaten ist v1.43.1 der empfohlene Paketstand.
+
+---
+
 ## v1.42.0 (2026-08-22)

 **Gemeinsamer Bandkontext, sitzungsbasierte ON4KST-Verbindung und signierte macOS-Pakete**
@@ -44,13 +110,11 @@ v1.42 führt mehrere bisher getrennte Auswertungen zusammen. Bandinformationen,

 ### Geändert

- **DX-Cluster-Zeilenformat vereinheitlicht:** Lokale Spots verwenden jetzt eine feste, DXSpider-kompatible 75-Zeichen-Nutzzeile mit dem DX-Rufzeichen ab Spalte 27, einem 30 Zeichen breiten Kommentarfeld und der UTC-Zeit ab Spalte 71. Das Format bleibt auch bei Mikrowellenfrequenzen bis 24 GHz stabil. Überlange DX-Rufzeichen werden verworfen und protokolliert, statt still abgeschnitten zu werden; AirScout- und Testkommentare sind entsprechend kompakter.
-
 - **Sessionbezogene ON4KST-Verbindungssteuerung:** Socket, Reader, Writer, Messagebus und Warteschlangen gehören jetzt zu einer eindeutig identifizierten Verbindungssession. Veraltete Threads einer abgelösten Verbindung können dadurch keine Daten mehr verarbeiten oder die neue Verbindung schließen. `ONLINE` wird erst nach bestätigtem Login und vollständig empfangenen Benutzerlisten gemeldet. Verbindungsaufbau, Login und Synchronisation besitzen feste Zeitlimits; Heartbeats, ausbleibende Eingangsdaten, EOF sowie Lese- und Schreibfehler werden überwacht und lösen bei Bedarf einen kontrollierten Neuaufbau mit Backoff aus.

 - **ON4KST-Protokollbefehle abgesichert:** Ausgehende Befehle werden zentral aufgebaut und auf gültige Kategorien, Locatoren und unerlaubte Frame-Trennzeichen geprüft. Da ON4KST pro TCP-Session nur einen Locator verwaltet, wird für beide Chat-Kategorien der Hauptlocator verwendet und eine abweichende zweite Konfiguration protokolliert, statt widersprüchliche Befehle an den Server zu senden.

- **QRG-Erkennung präzisiert:** Vollständige Frequenzangaben werden auch ohne Dezimaltrenner erkannt; die letzten drei Ziffern bilden dabei den kHz-Anteil. Relative Frequenzen bleiben unverändert, und nackte dreistellige Zahlen gelten weiterhin nur bei erkennbarem Frequenzkontext als QRG. Signalrapporte, Bandangaben und andere Zahlen erzeugen dadurch seltener falsche Frequenzen.
+- **QRG-Erkennung präzisiert:** Vollständige und relative Frequenzangaben werden weiterhin erkannt. Nackte dreistellige Zahlen gelten nur noch bei erkennbarem Frequenzkontext als QRG. Signalrapporte, Bandangaben und andere Zahlen erzeugen dadurch seltener falsche Frequenzen.

 - **Stationsbezogener Frequenzkontext:** Bei relativen QRGs verwendet KST4Contest zuerst einen höchstens 30 Minuten alten Bandkontext derselben Station. Erst wenn dieser fehlt, wird das global konfigurierte Fallback-Band verwendet.

@@ -84,10 +148,6 @@ v1.42 führt mehrere bisher getrennte Auswertungen zusammen. Bandinformationen,

 - **DXLog-Gesamtlog übernommen:** Der UCXLog-kompatible UDP-Listener verarbeitet neben `contactinfo` auch `contactreplace`. Dadurch kann ein von DXLog.net als vollständiges Log ausgesendeter Datenbestand eingelesen werden.

- **Logger-Bandwerte vereinheitlicht:** Numerische sowie Meter- und Zentimeterangaben aus UCXLog-kompatiblen QSO-Paketen und die Band-IDs von Win-Test werden einmal normalisiert und danach einheitlich für Worked-Markierungen und Worked-Großfelder verwendet. Dadurch setzen insbesondere `2320`, `5760` und `10368` zuverlässig ihre vorhandenen Bandmarkierungen. Bei einem fehlenden oder unbekannten Band bleibt es beim globalen Worked-Status.
-
- **Simplelogfile-Verhalten präzisiert:** Die ausgewählte Textdatei wird einmal pro Minute mit einem festen Rufzeichenmuster ausgewertet. Treffer setzen den globalen Worked-Status aller aktiven Varianten des Basisrufzeichens, werden aber nicht in SQLite persistiert. Eine fehlende Datei wird angelegt; Lese- und Erstellungsfehler beenden die periodische Auswertung nicht. Ein Datenbank-Reset verändert die Datei nicht, sodass enthaltene Rufzeichen bei der nächsten Auswertung erneut als gearbeitet markiert werden.
-
 - **Automatische QRG-Übernahme abgesichert:** `MYQRG` wird nur von einer aktivierten Schnittstelle aktualisiert, die tatsächlich gültige `RadioInfo`- beziehungsweise Win-Test-`STATUS`-Pakete liefert. Eine aktivierte, aber nicht liefernde Quelle ersetzt die notwendige Funktionsprüfung oder manuelle QRG-Pflege nicht.

 - **Versionserkennung verbessert:** Versionsnummern werden semantisch verglichen, damit beispielsweise Patch-Versionen und Nightly-Stände nicht mehr durch eine einfache Fließkommazahl falsch eingeordnet werden.
@@ -96,8 +156,6 @@ v1.42 führt mehrere bisher getrennte Auswertungen zusammen. Bandinformationen,

 - **Zuverlässige Benutzerliste beim Login:** Ungültige oder unvollständige `UA0`-Teilnehmerdatensätze werden einzeln verworfen und protokolliert, ohne die Verarbeitung der alphabetisch folgenden Teilnehmer abzubrechen. Die gültigen Einträge werden zunächst pro Kategorie gesammelt und erst mit dem ersten zugehörigen `UE`-Abschlussframe vollständig veröffentlicht.

- **Persistierter Worked-Status beim Listenaufbau:** Beim Abschluss jeder initialen ON4KST-Benutzerliste wird der SQLite-Zustand einmal geladen und vor der Veröffentlichung auf die neuen Chatmember angewendet. Das gilt für beide Kategorien, erneute Verbindungen und alle aktiven Varianten eines Basisrufzeichens.
-
 - **Benutzerliste verschwindet nach dem Login:** ON4KST kann nach Namens-, Status- oder anderen Live-Änderungen weitere `UE`-Frames für dieselbe Kategorie senden. Wiederholte Abschlussframes werden jetzt erkannt und ignoriert, damit eine bereits gefüllte Benutzerliste nicht durch eine leere Momentaufnahme ersetzt wird.

 - **Fehlgeschlagener Erstaufbau und Verbindungsverlust:** Wenn beim Programmstart keine Verbindung zum Server hergestellt werden kann, läuft KST4Contest nicht mehr in eine Endlos- oder Busy-Wait-Schleife. Die Oberfläche bleibt bedienbar und weitere Versuche erfolgen mit begrenztem Backoff. Auch ein vom Server geschlossener oder über längere Zeit stummer Socket wird zuverlässig erkannt.
@@ -831,7 +831,11 @@ Die Bandangaben verwenden dieselbe Herleitung wie die Bandspalten, der Filter **

 Treffen mehrere Zustände gleichzeitig zu, hat die für den Betrieb wichtigere Markierung Vorrang. Eine ausgewählte Station bleibt deshalb orange; eine Richtungsgelegenheit wird grün dargestellt, auch wenn das Rufzeichen bereits gearbeitet wurde.

-Bei niedrigen Zoomstufen werden räumlich dicht beieinanderliegende Stationen zu einem Cluster zusammengefasst. Die Zahl im Cluster gibt die Anzahl der enthaltenen Stationen an. Ein Klick zoomt weiter hinein, wählt aber noch keine einzelne Station aus. Die aktuell ausgewählte Station und grün markierte Richtungsgelegenheiten bleiben auch bei niedriger Zoomstufe als einzelne Marker sichtbar.
+Mit der Checkbox **Group nearby stations** lässt sich die räumliche Gruppierung steuern. Ist sie ausgewählt, werden bei niedrigen Zoomstufen dicht beieinanderliegende Marker zu einem Bildschirm-Cluster zusammengefasst. Die Zahl im Cluster gibt die Anzahl der enthaltenen Stationen an. Ein Klick zoomt weiter hinein, wählt aber noch keine einzelne Station aus. Die aktuell ausgewählte Station und grün markierte Richtungsgelegenheiten bleiben auch bei niedriger Zoomstufe möglichst als einzelne Marker sichtbar.
+
+Ist **Group nearby stations** nicht ausgewählt, erscheinen alle positionierbaren Stationen unabhängig von der Zoomstufe als einzelne Marker. Die Änderung wirkt sofort, ohne Stationsdaten neu zu laden oder Zoom, Kartenausschnitt und Auswahl zu verändern. KST4Contest speichert die Einstellung automatisch und stellt sie beim nächsten Start wieder her. Bestehende Installationen beginnen mit aktivierter Gruppierung und behalten damit zunächst das bisherige Verhalten.
+
+Diese Bildschirm-Cluster sind nicht mit der Zusammenfassung von Chatvarianten zu verwechseln. Mehrere aktive Varianten desselben normalisierten Basisrufzeichens werden weiterhin zu einem geografischen Marker zusammengeführt. Das Ausschalten von **Group nearby stations** erzeugt daraus keine zusätzlichen Marker und verändert weder Chatidentitäten noch Filter oder Stationsdaten.

 ### Auswahl und geografische Hilfen

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@

 Nach dem ersten Start öffnet sich das **Einstellungsfenster** – dieses ist der zentrale Ausgangspunkt für alle Konfigurationen. Es empfiehlt sich, das Einstellungsfenster während des Betriebs geöffnet zu lassen (z. B. um den Beacon schnell ein- und auszuschalten).

-> **Wichtig**: Nach jeder Änderung unbedingt **„Save Settings"** klicken! Die Einstellungen werden unter Linux und macOS in `~/.praktiKST/preferences.xml` und unter Windows in `%USERPROFILE%\.praktiKST\preferences.xml` (bzw. `C:\Users\<Benutzername>\.praktiKST\preferences.xml`) gespeichert. Ab v1.21 werden auch Fenstergrößen und Divider-Positionen beim Speichern gesichert.
+> **Wichtig**: Fachliche Einstellungen mit **„Save Settings"** sichern, wenn sie beim nächsten Start wieder gelten sollen. Layoutänderungen wie Fenstergrößen, Divider-Positionen und Tabellenbreiten speichert KST4Contest automatisch. Die gemeinsame Datei liegt unter Linux und macOS in `~/.praktiKST/preferences.xml` und unter Windows in `%USERPROFILE%\.praktiKST\preferences.xml` (bzw. `C:\Users\<Benutzername>\.praktiKST\preferences.xml`).

 ---

@@ -886,8 +886,11 @@ Der Dark Mode wird über **Windows → Use dark mode design** aktiviert. Mit **W

 ## Einstellungen speichern

-Nach **jeder** Änderung **„Save Settings"** klicken! Ohne Speichern gehen alle Änderungen beim nächsten Start verloren.
+**Save Settings** speichert die fachlichen Einstellungen und den vollständigen aktuellen Layoutstand. Änderungen an Fenstergrößen und -positionen, relevanten Dividern, verwalteten Tabellenbreiten sowie der Karteneinstellung **Group nearby stations** werden zusätzlich automatisch mit kurzer Verzögerung gespeichert. Ein ausstehender Layoutstand wird beim Programmende noch geschrieben.

 - Speicherort: unter Linux und macOS `~/.praktiKST/preferences.xml` und unter Windows `%USERPROFILE%\.praktiKST\preferences.xml` (bzw. `C:\Users\<Benutzername>\.praktiKST\preferences.xml`)
- Ab v1.21: Fenstergrößen und Divider-Positionen werden ebenfalls gespeichert.
+- Der automatische Layout-Writer übernimmt keine noch nicht mit **Save Settings** bestätigten fachlichen Änderungen.
+- Die Konfigurationsversion 6 ergänzt optionale Spaltenbreiten unter `guiOptions`. Ältere `preferences.xml`-Dateien bleiben lesbar; fehlen Breiten oder sind Einträge ungültig, ermittelt KST4Contest wieder brauchbare Anfangsbreiten.
+- Die Konfigurationsversion 7 ergänzt `GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled` unter `guiOptions`. Fehlt der Eintrag oder ist sein Wert unbrauchbar, bleibt die räumliche Kartengruppierung aktiviert.
+- Ältere Programmversionen ignorieren die zusätzlichen XML-Einträge. Wenn eine ältere Version die Datei vollständig neu speichert, können die Spaltenbreiten und die gespeicherte Auswahl für **Group nearby stations** verloren gehen.
 - Bei Problemen: Konfigurationsdatei löschen → KST4Contest erstellt eine neue mit Standardwerten.
@@ -8,6 +8,72 @@ Published Stable versions and their application packages are available under [Gi

 ---

+## v1.43.1 (2026-09-03)
+
+**Corrected version metadata**
+
+v1.43.1 contains the same functional changes as v1.43.0. It corrects the application and build metadata used for display, ON4KST identification and update comparison. Some metadata in the first v1.43.0 package set still identified the build as version 1.42.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Consistent semantic version:** The user-visible application version now uses the complete `1.43.1` form. The compact value `1.431` remains only in the deprecated numeric field required for compatibility with older update feeds.
+
+- **Tagged-release update feed:** The website build, version-feed validation and artifact upload now run as actual workflow steps after the GitHub Release has been published. They were previously indented into the release action's artifact list and therefore skipped.
+
+Users of v1.43.0 should install v1.43.1. The functionality is unchanged; the update only corrects the version metadata and release workflow.
+
+The corrected version is available as [Release v1.43.1](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/tag/v1.43.1).
+
+---
+
+## v1.43.0 (2026-09-03)
+
+**More reliable log synchronisation, persistent layouts and better DX Cluster compatibility**
+
+v1.43 concentrates on reliability around external log data and long-running contest operation. It also adds practical control over table layouts and station grouping on the map.
+
+### Added
+
+- **Optional map clustering:** **Group nearby stations** immediately enables or disables spatial grouping at lower zoom levels. The stored setting changes neither the viewport nor the selected station; aggregation of active variants sharing one base callsign remains independent. This implements [Issue #79](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/issues/79).
+
+- **Automatic table-layout persistence:** Tables receive useful widths when their first meaningful contents arrive. Manually changed column widths, window sizes and relevant dividers are written to `preferences.xml` after a short delay. The main and monitor windows keep separate DXCluster and QSO-of-the-other layouts.
+
+- **Tooltips for truncated table values:** Normal table cells expose their complete text when the visible column is too narrow, without replacing functional tooltips or clickable links.
+
+- **Simplelogfile creation notice:** When the selected file does not exist, KST4Contest creates it and displays a notice with the file path, a concrete test procedure and a link to the relevant manual section.
+
+### Changed
+
+- **Robust Simplelogfile evaluation:** The selected file is evaluated once per minute and closed after every pass so that the logging application can replace or rotate it. Detected callsigns apply the global Worked state to every active suffix variant of the base callsign. Disabling the function prevents any file access, while read or creation errors no longer terminate the periodic task.
+
+- **Consistent external logger bands:** UCXLog-compatible packets and Win-Test events use one shared band normalisation. Numeric values, metre and centimetre designators and the existing Win-Test IDs now set the same Worked flags and worked grid squares. Values including `2320`, `5760` and `10368` are handled reliably; a missing or unknown band sets only the global Worked state.
+
+- **Compact full-frequency recognition:** Complete frequencies without a decimal separator are accepted across the supported bands, with the final three digits interpreted as the kHz part. Bare three-digit numbers still require recognisable frequency context so that signal reports and unrelated numbers are not treated as QRGs.
+
+- **DXSpider-compatible spot format:** Local DX Cluster spots use a fixed 75-character payload line with the DX callsign in column 27, a 30-character comment field and UTC time in column 71. The format remains stable up to 24 GHz. Overlong DX callsigns are rejected and logged instead of being silently truncated. This resolves [Issue #86](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/issues/86).
+
+- **Active ON4KST connection probe:** A quiet chat server is checked with an explicit session-wide probe before the connection is treated as dead. Heartbeats and probe frames retain the required CR/LF framing.
+
+- **Reliable private-message age highlighting:** Incoming private messages use the defined green age levels for up to five minutes. Locally sent messages retain their separate style, and empty or reused table rows return to the normal design instead of keeping an obsolete highlight.
+
+### Fixed
+
+- **Worked state after login:** Persisted SQLite Worked information is loaded and applied before each initial ON4KST user list is published. Reconnects, both categories and all active variants of a base callsign therefore start with the correct state. This resolves [Issue #85](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/issues/85).
+
+- **False disconnect during quiet periods:** A valid ON4KST connection is no longer closed merely because the server currently has no activity lines to send.
+
+### Documentation and packaging
+
+- The German and English manuals were revised against the implementation. A new contest-workflow chapter connects the individual functions into a practical operating sequence, while the sections on dual chat, private-message handling, QRG synchronisation, Simplelogfile evaluation and configuration were clarified.
+
+- The website feature pages now describe band and direction opportunities, the station map, QRG handling, filters, global message views, private-message handling and logger synchronisation in more detail.
+
+- The AUR package definitions were updated for v1.43.0.
+
+The complete v1.43.0 functionality is available in [Release v1.43.0](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/tag/v1.43.0). Because its embedded version metadata is inconsistent, v1.43.1 is the recommended package set.
+
+---
+
 ## v1.42.0 (2026-08-22)

 **Shared band context, session-based ON4KST connection and signed macOS packages**
@@ -44,13 +110,11 @@ v1.42 brings several previously separate calculations together. Band information

 ### Changed

- **Unified DX Cluster line format:** Local spots now use a fixed, DXSpider-compatible 75-character payload line with the DX callsign in column 27, a 30-character comment field and UTC time in column 71. The layout remains stable for microwave frequencies up to 24 GHz. Overlong DX callsigns are rejected and logged instead of being silently truncated; AirScout and test comments are correspondingly more compact.
-
 - **Session-based ON4KST connection lifecycle:** Each socket, reader, writer, message bus and queue now belongs to an explicitly identified connection session. Delayed threads from an obsolete connection can therefore no longer process data or close its replacement. `ONLINE` is reported only after the login has been accepted and all requested user lists have been received. Connection setup, login and synchronisation use bounded timeouts, while heartbeats, missing inbound traffic, EOF and read or write failures trigger controlled reconnect attempts with backoff where appropriate.

 - **Validated ON4KST protocol commands:** Outgoing frames are built centrally and checked for valid categories, locators and prohibited frame delimiters. Because ON4KST maintains one locator per TCP session, the main locator is used for both chat categories and a conflicting secondary configuration is logged instead of sending contradictory commands to the server.

- **More precise QRG recognition:** Complete frequencies are also recognised without a decimal separator, with the final three digits interpreted as the kHz part. Relative frequencies remain unchanged, and bare three-digit numbers still require recognisable frequency context. Signal reports, band designators and unrelated numbers therefore produce fewer false frequencies.
+- **More precise QRG recognition:** Complete and relative frequency references continue to be recognised. Bare three-digit numbers are treated as QRGs only when a frequency context is available. Signal reports, band designators and unrelated numbers therefore produce fewer false frequencies.

 - **Station-specific frequency context:** For relative QRGs, KST4Contest first uses a band context for the same station which is no more than 30 minutes old. The globally configured fallback band is used only when this context is unavailable.

@@ -84,10 +148,6 @@ v1.42 brings several previously separate calculations together. Band information

 - **DXLog full-log import:** In addition to `contactinfo`, the UCXLog-compatible UDP listener processes `contactreplace`. This allows a complete log broadcast by DXLog.net to be imported.

- **Consistent logger band values:** Numeric, metre and centimetre values from UCXLog-compatible QSO packets and Win-Test band IDs are normalised once and then used consistently for Worked marks and worked grid squares. In particular, `2320`, `5760` and `10368` now reliably set their existing band marks. A missing or unknown band continues to set only the global Worked status.
-
- **Defined Simplelogfile behaviour:** The selected text file is evaluated once per minute using a fixed callsign pattern. Matches set the global Worked status for all active variants of the base callsign but are not persisted in SQLite. A missing file is created, and read or creation errors do not terminate the periodic task. A database reset does not change the file, so callsigns contained in it are marked as worked again during the next evaluation.
-
 - **Guarded automatic QRG updates:** `MYQRG` is updated only by an enabled interface which actually supplies valid `RadioInfo` or Win-Test `STATUS` packets. An enabled source which provides no data does not remove the need for a functional check or manual QRG maintenance.

 - **Improved version comparison:** Versions are compared semantically so that patch releases and Nightly versions are not misclassified by conversion to a floating-point number.
@@ -96,8 +156,6 @@ v1.42 brings several previously separate calculations together. Band information

 - **Reliable initial user list:** Invalid or incomplete `UA0` member records are rejected and logged individually without preventing alphabetically following members from being processed. Valid entries are staged per category and published as one complete snapshot when the first corresponding `UE` end marker is received.

- **Persisted Worked state during initial-list setup:** At the end of each initial ON4KST user list, the SQLite state is loaded once and applied to the new chat members before publication. This covers both categories, reconnects and every active variant of a base callsign.
-
 - **User list disappearing after login:** ON4KST may send additional `UE` frames for the same category after name, state or other live updates. Repeated end markers are now detected and ignored so that an already populated user list cannot be replaced by an empty snapshot.

 - **Failed initial connection and lost sockets:** An unavailable server during startup no longer sends KST4Contest into an endless or busy-wait loop. The user interface remains responsive and further attempts use bounded reconnect backoff. Sockets closed by the server, or connections without inbound traffic for an excessive period, are also detected reliably.
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@

 After the first start, the **settings window** opens – this is the central starting point for all configuration. It is recommended to keep the settings window open during operation (e.g. to quickly toggle the beacon on and off).

-> **Important**: Always click **"Save Settings"** after any change! Settings are stored in `~/.praktiKST/preferences.xml` on Linux and macOS and in `%USERPROFILE%\.praktiKST\preferences.xml` (or `C:\Users\<Username>\.praktiKST\preferences.xml`) on Windows. From v1.21 onwards, window sizes and divider positions are also saved when you click Save.
+> **Important**: Use **Save Settings** for functional settings which should remain in effect after the next start. KST4Contest saves layout changes such as window sizes, divider positions and table-column widths automatically. The shared file is `~/.praktiKST/preferences.xml` on Linux and macOS and `%USERPROFILE%\.praktiKST\preferences.xml` (or `C:\Users\<Username>\.praktiKST\preferences.xml`) on Windows.

 ---

@@ -943,8 +943,11 @@ Enable Dark Mode through **Windows → Use dark mode design**. Use **Windows →

 ## Saving Settings

-Click **"Save Settings"** after **every** change! Without saving, all changes will be lost on the next start.
+**Save Settings** stores functional settings and the complete current layout. Changes to window sizes and positions, relevant dividers, managed table-column widths and the **Group nearby stations** map setting are also saved automatically after a short delay. Any pending layout update is written when the programme exits.

 - Storage location: `~/.praktiKST/preferences.xml` on Linux and macOS and `%USERPROFILE%\.praktiKST\preferences.xml` (or `C:\Users\<Username>\.praktiKST\preferences.xml`) on Windows
- From v1.21: Window sizes and divider positions are also saved.
+- The automatic layout writer does not copy functional changes which have not yet been confirmed with **Save Settings**.
+- Configuration version 6 adds optional column-width entries below `guiOptions`. Older `preferences.xml` files remain readable. Missing or invalid widths simply cause KST4Contest to calculate useful initial widths again.
+- Configuration version 7 adds `GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled` below `guiOptions`. If the entry is missing or unusable, spatial map clustering remains enabled.
+- Older programme versions ignore the additional XML entries. If an older version rewrites the complete file, column widths and the stored **Group nearby stations** choice may be lost.
 - If you encounter problems: delete the configuration file → KST4Contest will create a new one with default values.
@@ -825,7 +825,11 @@ Marker colours provide a compact status indication:

 The selected state has the highest display priority, followed by the directional warning and Worked state. A selected station therefore remains orange even if it also meets one of the other conditions.

-At lower zoom levels, nearby markers are combined into screen-based clusters. This is a display function and does not merge the underlying chat members. Selected stations and important directional candidates remain individually visible where possible.
+The **Group nearby stations** checkbox controls spatial grouping. When selected, nearby markers are combined into screen-based clusters at lower zoom levels. The number inside a cluster shows how many stations it contains. Clicking a cluster zooms in but does not select an individual station. Selected stations and important directional candidates remain individually visible where possible.
+
+Clearing **Group nearby stations** displays every positionable station as an individual marker at every zoom level. The change takes effect immediately without reloading station data or changing the current zoom, viewport or selection. KST4Contest saves the setting automatically and restores it at the next start. Existing installations initially keep clustering enabled and therefore retain the previous behaviour.
+
+Screen-based clustering is separate from base-callsign aggregation. Active variants of the same normalised base callsign continue to share one geographical marker where applicable. Disabling **Group nearby stations** does not split that marker and does not change chat identities, filters or station data.

 Clicking a station marker selects the corresponding active chat member in the main window. KST4Contest scrolls to the entry in the user list, updates the **Further Info** panel and prepares the complete visible callsign as the message target. The chat suffix and category therefore remain relevant even though several variants may share one map marker.

@@ -154,7 +154,15 @@ The value affects, among other things:

 ---

-## Message Tables
+## Table Widths and Truncated Cell Values
+
+When useful data first becomes available, KST4Contest sizes the columns of the user list, message views, DXCluster and QSO tables, and Worked database once from their headings and existing contents. Stored widths take precedence. The initial widths of **Name**, **AP** and **NOT QRV @** are capped so that one long value cannot displace the rest of the table. **Message** and similar free-text columns remain flexible and do not follow the longest message.
+
+Manually changed column widths are saved automatically and restored at the next start. Later messages or station updates do not overwrite that choice.
+
+If a normal text value does not fit in its cell, a tooltip shows the complete value. It appears only when the displayed text is actually truncated. Functional tooltips for QRA, Worked, band and similar states remain available. If such a cell is also truncated, the tooltip contains both the full value and the functional explanation.
+
+### Message Text and Links

 KST4Contest deliberately displays message text on a single line. This keeps a larger number of entries visible when chat activity is high. The disadvantage is obvious: if the **Message** column is narrow, not every message fits completely into its cell.

@@ -331,7 +339,11 @@ A single station marker can be selected directly. KST4Contest then:

 Chat logins with the same normalised base callsign and position may share one marker. They nevertheless remain separate message targets inside KST4Contest.

-Markers which are too close together at the current zoom level are displayed as a cluster containing the number of stations. Clicking the cluster zooms into that area. A concrete station is selected only after an individual marker becomes visible and is clicked.
+When **Group nearby stations** is selected, markers which are too close together at lower zoom levels are displayed as a cluster containing the number of stations. Clicking the cluster zooms into that area. A concrete station is selected only after an individual marker becomes visible and is clicked. Clearing the checkbox displays every positionable station as an individual marker at every zoom level.
+
+The change takes effect immediately without changing the current zoom, viewport or station selection. It is saved automatically and restored at the next programme start. If no value has been stored yet, **Group nearby stations** remains selected so existing installations retain the previous behaviour.
+
+This switch controls only the spatial clusters on screen. Active chat variants of the same normalised base callsign may still share one geographical marker and remain separate message targets regardless of this setting.

 For a selected station, the header additionally shows:

@@ -436,7 +448,7 @@ KST4Contest additionally opens the **Cluster & QSO of the other** window. It sho

 ![Separate monitor window for DX cluster traffic and directed messages between other stations](cluster_qso_monitor.png)

-The vertical divider position and window size are stored together with the other UI settings. Use **Save Settings** after changing them.
+The vertical divider position and window size are saved automatically. The DXCluster and QSO tables use their own column widths in this window, so changing the monitor layout does not alter the corresponding main-window tabs.

 The window can be hidden and restored through:

@@ -482,13 +494,13 @@ Functions which communicate with the server are available only after the ON4KST

 ## Window Sizes and Dividers

-When **Save Settings** is clicked, KST4Contest stores the programme-window sizes and the positions of the relevant dividers in the configuration file. These values are reused at the next start.
+KST4Contest automatically stores programme-window sizes and positions, relevant dividers and manually changed table-column widths in the configuration file after a short delay. Any pending layout update is written when the programme exits. **Save Settings** is not required for these changes, but still stores the complete current state, including the layout.

 The main window is additionally checked against the visible area of the primary screen during startup. If the stored size is too large, KST4Contest reduces and moves the window so that it remains accessible. The complete process is described under [Screen-Aware Main Window Sizing](en-Features#screen-aware-main-window-sizing-from-v141).

-The other programme windows do not currently use this additional size restriction. If, for example, the separate monitor window appears too large after moving to a smaller screen, its size must be corrected manually and stored again using **Save Settings**.
+The other programme windows do not currently use this additional size restriction. If, for example, the separate monitor window appears too large after moving to a smaller screen, correcting it manually is sufficient; the new size is saved automatically.

-If the layout has become inconvenient, first move the dividers back to usable positions and save the settings again. Deleting the configuration file also resets the UI values, but it removes the other stored programme settings as well. It should therefore be used only when the interface cannot be restored in another way.
+If the layout has become inconvenient, first move the dividers and column widths back to usable positions. Deleting the configuration file also resets the UI values, but it removes the other stored programme settings as well. It should therefore be used only when the interface cannot be restored in another way.


 ---
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 pkgbase = kst4contest-bin
 	pkgdesc = ON4KST Chat Client for VHF/UHF contest operation (pre-built)
-	pkgver = 1.42.0
+	pkgver = 1.43.0
 	pkgrel = 1
 	url = https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest
 	arch = x86_64
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pkgbase = kst4contest-bin
 	provides = kst4contest
 	conflicts = kst4contest
 	conflicts = kst4contest-git
-	source = KST4Contest-v1.42.0-archlinux-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst::https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/download/v1.42.0/KST4Contest-v1.42.0-archlinux-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
-	sha256sums = 3d8ac19c9f9d3ab0bdaf0ea621de0aa18c64f442c8776d28bfad607522aaf02b
+	source = KST4Contest-v1.43.0-archlinux-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst::https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/download/v1.43.0/KST4Contest-v1.43.0-archlinux-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
+	sha256sums = 5116d1ec8dac7dfe96976bdf9bc23b767e4ff53832a91c4af26482db7a32dab5

 pkgname = kst4contest-bin
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Maintainer: Philipp Wagner <philipp@wagnersnetz.de>
 pkgname=kst4contest-bin
-pkgver=1.42.0
+pkgver=1.43.0
 pkgrel=1
 pkgdesc="ON4KST Chat Client for VHF/UHF contest operation (pre-built)"
 arch=('x86_64')
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ depends=('gst-plugins-base' 'gst-plugins-good')
 provides=('kst4contest')
 conflicts=('kst4contest' 'kst4contest-git')
 source=("KST4Contest-v${pkgver}-archlinux-${CARCH}.pkg.tar.zst::https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/download/v${pkgver}/KST4Contest-v${pkgver}-archlinux-${CARCH}.pkg.tar.zst")
-sha256sums=('3d8ac19c9f9d3ab0bdaf0ea621de0aa18c64f442c8776d28bfad607522aaf02b')
+sha256sums=('5116d1ec8dac7dfe96976bdf9bc23b767e4ff53832a91c4af26482db7a32dab5')

 package() {
    cp -a "${srcdir}/usr" "${pkgdir}/"
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 pkgbase = kst4contest-git
 	pkgdesc = ON4KST Chat Client for VHF/UHF contest operation (git)
-	pkgver = 1.42.0.r256.g8aadbb9
+	pkgver = 1.43.0.r291.g3ed1cad5
 	pkgrel = 1
 	url = https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest
 	arch = x86_64
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Maintainer: Philipp Wagner <philipp@wagnersnetz.de>
 pkgname=kst4contest-git
-pkgver=1.42.0.r256.g8aadbb9
+pkgver=1.43.0.r291.g3ed1cad5
 pkgrel=1
 pkgdesc="ON4KST Chat Client for VHF/UHF contest operation (git)"
 arch=('x86_64')
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 pkgbase = kst4contest
 	pkgdesc = ON4KST Chat Client for VHF/UHF contest operation
-	pkgver = 1.42.0
+	pkgver = 1.43.0
 	pkgrel = 1
 	url = https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest
 	arch = x86_64
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ pkgbase = kst4contest
 	provides = kst4contest
 	conflicts = kst4contest-bin
 	conflicts = kst4contest-git
-	source = kst4contest-1.42.0.tar.gz::https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/archive/refs/tags/v1.42.0.tar.gz
-	sha256sums = bd396387b8de41aac706458d5ebf64140ab3e83b8a7c710b66aa802bd48e804e
+	source = kst4contest-1.43.0.tar.gz::https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/archive/refs/tags/v1.43.0.tar.gz
+	sha256sums = 75d0a872d126f46a9e64497a9bae247f741b31183be9b12079e1c57bf12d5c71

 pkgname = kst4contest
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Maintainer: Philipp Wagner <philipp@wagnersnetz.de>
 pkgname=kst4contest
-pkgver=1.42.0
+pkgver=1.43.0
 pkgrel=1
 pkgdesc="ON4KST Chat Client for VHF/UHF contest operation"
 arch=('x86_64')
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ makedepends=('java-environment=21' 'maven')
 provides=('kst4contest')
 conflicts=('kst4contest-bin' 'kst4contest-git')
 source=("${pkgname}-${pkgver}.tar.gz::https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/archive/refs/tags/v${pkgver}.tar.gz")
-sha256sums=('bd396387b8de41aac706458d5ebf64140ab3e83b8a7c710b66aa802bd48e804e')
+sha256sums=('75d0a872d126f46a9e64497a9bae247f741b31183be9b12079e1c57bf12d5c71')

 build() {
    cd "${srcdir}/kst4contest-${pkgver}"
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@

    <groupId>de.x08</groupId>
    <artifactId>praktiKST</artifactId>
-    <version>1.42.0-nightly</version>
+    <version>1.43.1-nightly</version>

    <name>praktiKST</name>

@@ -20,14 +20,14 @@ public class ApplicationConstants {
    /**
     * Version shown to the user and used for semantic version comparison.
     */
-    public static final String APPLICATION_CURRENT_VERSION = "1.42";
+    public static final String APPLICATION_CURRENT_VERSION = "1.43.1";

    /**
     * Legacy numeric representation used only while older update feeds and
     * application versions still exist.
     */
    @Deprecated
-    public static final double APPLICATION_CURRENTVERSIONNUMBER = 1.42;
+    public static final double APPLICATION_CURRENTVERSIONNUMBER = 1.431;

    public static final String VERSIONINFOURLFORUPDATES_KST4CONTEST = "https://kst4contest.hamradioonline.de/kst4ContestVersionInfo.xml";
    public static final String VERSIONINFDOWNLOADEDLOCALFILE  = "kst4ContestVersionInfo.xml";
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 package kst4contest.model;

 import java.io.File;
-import java.io.FileOutputStream;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.OutputStream;
-import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.nio.file.AtomicMoveNotSupportedException;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+import java.nio.file.StandardCopyOption;
 import java.util.Iterator;
+import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.OptionalDouble;

 import javax.xml.XMLConstants;
 import javax.xml.parsers.DocumentBuilder;
@@ -50,7 +55,7 @@ public class ChatPreferences {
 	 * Reading must stay backwards compatible: missing/unknown tags should fall back to defaults.
 	 */
 //	private static final int CONFIG_VERSION = 2;
-	public static final int CONFIG_VERSION = 5;
+	public static final int CONFIG_VERSION = 7;

 	// Prefer writing tag names that mirror variable names (human readable). Keep legacy tags for compatibility.
 	private static final String TAG_CONFIG_VERSION = "configVersion";
@@ -341,6 +346,12 @@ public class ChatPreferences {
 	private double[] GUIstationMapStageSceneSizeHW = new double[] { 1000, 800 };
 	private double[] GUIstationMapStagePositionXY = new double[] { Double.NaN, Double.NaN };
 	private boolean GUIstationMapPathAnalysisVisible = true;
+	private boolean GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled = true;
+	private final Map<String, Double> tableColumnWidths = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+
+	private static final String TAG_TABLE_COLUMN_WIDTH = "tableColumnWidth";
+	private static final double MIN_TABLE_COLUMN_WIDTH = 16.0;
+	private static final double MAX_TABLE_COLUMN_WIDTH = 10_000.0;


 	/*********************************************************************************
@@ -645,6 +656,39 @@ public class ChatPreferences {
 		this.GUIstationMapPathAnalysisVisible = GUIstationMapPathAnalysisVisible;
 	}

+	public boolean isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled() {
+		return GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled;
+	}
+
+	public void setGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled(boolean GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled) {
+		this.GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled = GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns a stored width for one stable table/leaf-column identity.
+	 *
+	 * @param tableId stable table layout identifier
+	 * @param columnId stable leaf-column identifier
+	 * @return stored pixel width, or empty when no usable value exists
+	 */
+	public synchronized OptionalDouble getTableColumnWidth(String tableId, String columnId) {
+		if (!isValidTableColumnIdentity(tableId, columnId)) {
+			return OptionalDouble.empty();
+		}
+		Double width = tableColumnWidths.get(tableColumnWidthKey(tableId, columnId));
+		return isValidTableColumnWidth(width) ? OptionalDouble.of(width) : OptionalDouble.empty();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Updates one table leaf-column width in memory. Persistence is coordinated by
+	 * the layout autosave layer.
+	 */
+	public synchronized void setTableColumnWidth(String tableId, String columnId, double width) {
+		if (isValidTableColumnIdentity(tableId, columnId) && isValidTableColumnWidth(width)) {
+			tableColumnWidths.put(tableColumnWidthKey(tableId, columnId), width);
+		}
+	}
+
 	public boolean isGuiOptions_defaultFilterNothing() {
 		return guiOptions_defaultFilterNothing;
 	}
@@ -1389,7 +1433,7 @@ public class ChatPreferences {
 	 *
 	 * @return true if the file writing was successful, else false
 	 */
-	public boolean writePreferencesToXmlFile() {
+	public synchronized boolean writePreferencesToXmlFile() {

 		DocumentBuilderFactory docFactory = DocumentBuilderFactory.newInstance();
 		try {
@@ -2085,27 +2129,25 @@ public class ChatPreferences {
 			);
 			guiOptions.appendChild(GUIstationMapPathAnalysisVisible);

+			Element GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled = doc.createElement("GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled");
+			GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled.setTextContent(
+					String.valueOf(this.isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled())
+			);
+			guiOptions.appendChild(GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled);
+
+			appendTableColumnWidths(doc, guiOptions);
+
 			/****************************************************************************************
 			 ****************************** now write this XML! *************************************
 			 ****************************************************************************************/

-			writeXml(doc, System.out);
-
-			// write dom document to a file
-			try (FileOutputStream output =
-						 new FileOutputStream(storeAndRestorePreferencesFileName)) {
-				writeXml(doc, output);
-			} catch (IOException e) {
-				e.printStackTrace();
-			} catch (TransformerException e) {
-				// TODO Auto-generated catch block
-				e.printStackTrace();
-			}
+			writeDocumentAtomically(doc);


-		} catch (ParserConfigurationException | TransformerException e1) {
+		} catch (ParserConfigurationException | TransformerException | IOException e1) {
 			// TODO Auto-generated catch block
 			e1.printStackTrace();
+			return false;
 		}
 		return true;

@@ -2117,6 +2159,113 @@ public class ChatPreferences {

 	}

+	/**
+	 * Writes only layout values into the existing preferences document. Functional
+	 * settings are deliberately read from disk and left untouched.
+	 */
+	public synchronized boolean writeLayoutPreferencesToXmlFile() {
+		Path preferencesPath = Path.of(storeAndRestorePreferencesFileName).toAbsolutePath();
+		if (!Files.isRegularFile(preferencesPath)) {
+			System.out.println("[ChatPreferences, Warning]: Cannot autosave layout because preferences.xml does not exist.");
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		try {
+			DocumentBuilder documentBuilder = createSecureDocumentBuilderFactory().newDocumentBuilder();
+			Document document = documentBuilder.parse(preferencesPath.toFile());
+			Element root = document.getDocumentElement();
+			if (root == null) {
+				return false;
+			}
+
+			upsertDirectChildText(document, root, TAG_CONFIG_VERSION, String.valueOf(CONFIG_VERSION));
+			Element guiOptions = getDirectChildElement(root, "guiOptions");
+			if (guiOptions == null) {
+				guiOptions = document.createElement("guiOptions");
+				root.appendChild(guiOptions);
+			}
+
+			updateLayoutElements(document, guiOptions);
+			removeDirectChildren(guiOptions, TAG_TABLE_COLUMN_WIDTH);
+			appendTableColumnWidths(document, guiOptions);
+			writeDocumentAtomically(document);
+			return true;
+		} catch (ParserConfigurationException | SAXException | IOException | TransformerException exception) {
+			exception.printStackTrace();
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+
+	private void updateLayoutElements(Document document, Element guiOptions) {
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW",
+				getGUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW()[0] + ";" + getGUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW()[1]);
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUIclusterAndQSOMonStage_SceneSizeHW",
+				getGUIclusterAndQSOMonStage_SceneSizeHW()[0] + ";" + getGUIclusterAndQSOMonStage_SceneSizeHW()[1]);
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUIstage_updateStage_SceneSizeHW",
+				getGUIstage_updateStage_SceneSizeHW()[0] + ";" + getGUIstage_updateStage_SceneSizeHW()[1]);
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUIsettingsStageSceneSizeHW",
+				getGUIsettingsStageSceneSizeHW()[0] + ";" + getGUIsettingsStageSceneSizeHW()[1]);
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUIselectedCallSignSplitPane_dividerposition",
+				doubleArrayToCSVString(getGUIselectedCallSignSplitPane_dividerposition()));
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUImainWindowLeftSplitPane_dividerposition",
+				doubleArrayToCSVString(getGUImainWindowLeftSplitPane_dividerposition()));
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUImessageSectionSplitpane_dividerposition",
+				doubleArrayToCSVString(getGUImessageSectionSplitpane_dividerposition()));
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUImainWindowRightSplitPane_dividerposition",
+				doubleArrayToCSVString(getGUImainWindowRightSplitPane_dividerposition()));
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUIpnl_directedMSGWin_dividerpositionDefault",
+				doubleArrayToCSVString(getGUIpnl_directedMSGWin_dividerpositionDefault()));
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUIstationMapStageSceneSizeHW",
+				getGUIstationMapStageSceneSizeHW()[0] + ";" + getGUIstationMapStageSceneSizeHW()[1]);
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUIstationMapStagePositionXY",
+				getGUIstationMapStagePositionXY()[0] + ";" + getGUIstationMapStagePositionXY()[1]);
+		upsertDirectChildText(document, guiOptions, "GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled",
+				String.valueOf(isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled()));
+	}
+
+	private void appendTableColumnWidths(Document document, Element guiOptions) {
+		for (Map.Entry<String, Double> entry : tableColumnWidths.entrySet()) {
+			if (!isValidTableColumnWidth(entry.getValue())) {
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			int separatorIndex = entry.getKey().indexOf('\u0000');
+			if (separatorIndex <= 0 || separatorIndex >= entry.getKey().length() - 1) {
+				continue;
+			}
+
+			Element widthElement = document.createElement(TAG_TABLE_COLUMN_WIDTH);
+			widthElement.setAttribute("tableId", entry.getKey().substring(0, separatorIndex));
+			widthElement.setAttribute("columnId", entry.getKey().substring(separatorIndex + 1));
+			widthElement.setAttribute("pixels", String.valueOf(entry.getValue()));
+			guiOptions.appendChild(widthElement);
+		}
+	}
+
+	private void writeDocumentAtomically(Document document) throws IOException, TransformerException {
+		Path target = Path.of(storeAndRestorePreferencesFileName).toAbsolutePath();
+		Path parent = target.getParent();
+		Path fileName = target.getFileName();
+		if (parent == null || fileName == null) {
+			throw new IOException("Preferences path has no parent directory: " + target);
+		}
+
+		Files.createDirectories(parent);
+		Path temporary = Files.createTempFile(parent, fileName.toString(), ".tmp");
+		try {
+			try (OutputStream output = Files.newOutputStream(temporary)) {
+				writeXml(document, output);
+			}
+			try {
+				Files.move(temporary, target, StandardCopyOption.ATOMIC_MOVE, StandardCopyOption.REPLACE_EXISTING);
+			} catch (AtomicMoveNotSupportedException exception) {
+				Files.move(temporary, target, StandardCopyOption.REPLACE_EXISTING);
+			}
+		} finally {
+			Files.deleteIfExists(temporary);
+		}
+	}
+
 	// write doc to output stream
 	private static void writeXml(Document doc, OutputStream output) throws TransformerException {

@@ -2824,6 +2973,7 @@ public class ChatPreferences {
 			 * case read GUI options
 			 *
 			 ***********************************************/
+			this.setGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled(true);
 			list = doc.getElementsByTagName("guiOptions");
 			if (list.getLength() != 0) {

@@ -2862,6 +3012,17 @@ public class ChatPreferences {
 								"GUIstationMapPathAnalysisVisible"
 						));

+						/*
+						 * Files written before config version 7 do not contain this value.
+						 * Missing or malformed values keep clustering enabled so existing
+						 * installations retain the established map behaviour.
+						 */
+						this.setGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled(getBooleanOrDefault(
+								element,
+								true,
+								"GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled"
+						));
+
 						// Splitpane divider positions
 						String s1 = getText(element, null, "GUIselectedCallSignSplitPane_dividerposition");
 						if (s1 != null) {
@@ -2920,6 +3081,22 @@ public class ChatPreferences {
 						if (s5 != null) {
 							this.setGUIpnl_directedMSGWin_dividerpositionDefault(csvStringToDoubleArray(s5));
 						}
+
+						tableColumnWidths.clear();
+						NodeList widthElements = element.getElementsByTagName(TAG_TABLE_COLUMN_WIDTH);
+						for (int widthIndex = 0; widthIndex < widthElements.getLength(); widthIndex++) {
+							Node widthNode = widthElements.item(widthIndex);
+							if (!(widthNode instanceof Element widthElement)) {
+								continue;
+							}
+
+							String tableId = widthElement.getAttribute("tableId");
+							String columnId = widthElement.getAttribute("columnId");
+							double width = parseDoubleOrDefault(widthElement.getAttribute("pixels"), Double.NaN);
+							if (isValidTableColumnIdentity(tableId, columnId) && isValidTableColumnWidth(width)) {
+								tableColumnWidths.put(tableColumnWidthKey(tableId, columnId), width);
+							}
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -3100,6 +3277,63 @@ public class ChatPreferences {
 		return (n instanceof Element) ? (Element) n : null;
 	}

+	private static DocumentBuilderFactory createSecureDocumentBuilderFactory()
+			throws ParserConfigurationException {
+		DocumentBuilderFactory factory = DocumentBuilderFactory.newInstance();
+		factory.setFeature(XMLConstants.FEATURE_SECURE_PROCESSING, true);
+		return factory;
+	}
+
+	private static Element getDirectChildElement(Element parent, String tagName) {
+		for (Node child = parent.getFirstChild(); child != null; child = child.getNextSibling()) {
+			if (child instanceof Element element && tagName.equals(element.getTagName())) {
+				return element;
+			}
+		}
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	private static void upsertDirectChildText(
+			Document document,
+			Element parent,
+			String tagName,
+			String value
+	) {
+		Element element = getDirectChildElement(parent, tagName);
+		if (element == null) {
+			element = document.createElement(tagName);
+			parent.appendChild(element);
+		}
+		element.setTextContent(value);
+	}
+
+	private static void removeDirectChildren(Element parent, String tagName) {
+		for (Node child = parent.getFirstChild(); child != null; ) {
+			Node next = child.getNextSibling();
+			if (child instanceof Element element && tagName.equals(element.getTagName())) {
+				parent.removeChild(child);
+			}
+			child = next;
+		}
+	}
+
+	private static String tableColumnWidthKey(String tableId, String columnId) {
+		if (!isValidTableColumnIdentity(tableId, columnId)) {
+			return "";
+		}
+		return tableId + '\u0000' + columnId;
+	}
+
+	private static boolean isValidTableColumnIdentity(String tableId, String columnId) {
+		return tableId != null && !tableId.isBlank() && tableId.indexOf('\u0000') < 0
+				&& columnId != null && !columnId.isBlank() && columnId.indexOf('\u0000') < 0;
+	}
+
+	private static boolean isValidTableColumnWidth(Double width) {
+		return width != null && Double.isFinite(width)
+				&& width >= MIN_TABLE_COLUMN_WIDTH && width <= MAX_TABLE_COLUMN_WIDTH;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * Returns the text content of the first matching child tag (directly under {@code parent})
 	 * or {@code defaultValue} if the tag does not exist or is empty.
@@ -3139,6 +3373,20 @@ public class ChatPreferences {
 		return "true".equalsIgnoreCase(v) || "1".equals(v) || "yes".equalsIgnoreCase(v);
 	}

+	private static boolean getBooleanOrDefault(Element parent, boolean defaultValue, String... tagNames) {
+		String value = getText(parent, null, tagNames);
+		if (value == null) {
+			return defaultValue;
+		}
+		if ("true".equalsIgnoreCase(value) || "1".equals(value) || "yes".equalsIgnoreCase(value)) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		if ("false".equalsIgnoreCase(value) || "0".equals(value) || "no".equalsIgnoreCase(value)) {
+			return false;
+		}
+		return defaultValue;
+	}
+
 	private static int getInt(Element parent, int defaultValue, String... tagNames) {
 		String v = getText(parent, null, tagNames);
 		if (v == null) {
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL

 	private StationMapView stationMapView; //view class for the avl stn map
 	private StationMapBridge stationMapBridge; //bridge for mapping actions between map and view
+	private LayoutAutosave layoutAutosave;

 	private final Button btnConnectionStateIndicator = new Button("LINK");
 	private final Tooltip tipConnectionStateIndicator = new Tooltip();
@@ -186,7 +187,10 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 			return;
 		}

-		stationMapView = new StationMapView(chatcontroller.getChatPreferences());
+		stationMapView = new StationMapView(
+				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences(),
+				this::requestLayoutSave
+		);
 		stationMapBridge = new StationMapBridge(
 				chatcontroller,
 				tbl_chatMember,
@@ -537,7 +541,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 	 * Builds the tooltip shown on a band-status cell: a fixed legend plus this row's
 	 * resolved status for the given band.
 	 */
-	private Tooltip buildBandCellStatusTooltip(ChatMember chatMember, Band band, String status) {
+	private String buildBandCellStatusTooltipText(ChatMember chatMember, Band band, String status) {
 		StringBuilder tooltip = new StringBuilder("Band status:\n")
 				.append("X = worked on this band\n")
 				.append("B+ = band available, not worked on this band yet (call already worked on another band)\n")
@@ -551,30 +555,26 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 					.append("Status: ").append(status == null || status.isBlank() ? "-" : status);
 		}

-		return new Tooltip(tooltip.toString());
+		return tooltip.toString();
 	}

 	/**
 	 * Creates a shared cell factory for one band-status column, attaching the
-	 * {@link #buildBandCellStatusTooltip(ChatMember, Band, String)} tooltip.
+	 * {@link #buildBandCellStatusTooltipText(ChatMember, Band, String)} tooltip.
 	 */
 	private Callback<TableColumn<ChatMember, String>, TableCell<ChatMember, String>> createBandStatusCellFactory(Band band) {
-		return column -> new TableCell<ChatMember, String>() {
+		return column -> new TruncatedTextTableCell<ChatMember>(
+				java.util.function.Function.identity(),
+				(member, status) -> buildBandCellStatusTooltipText(member, band, status)
+		) {
 			@Override
 			protected void updateItem(String item, boolean empty) {
 				super.updateItem(item, empty);

 				if (empty) {
-					setText(null);
-					setTooltip(null);
 					setStyle("");
 					return;
 				}
-
-				ChatMember member = getTableRow() == null ? null : getTableRow().getItem();
-
-				setText(item);
-				setTooltip(buildBandCellStatusTooltip(member, band, item));
 				setAlignment(Pos.CENTER);
 				setStyle("-fx-font-weight: bold;");
 			}
@@ -1374,6 +1374,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 				public void changed(ObservableValue<? extends Number> observableValue, Number oldDividerPos, Number newDividerPosition) {
 //					System.out.println("<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< devider " + selectedCallSignSplitPane.getDividers().indexOf(divider)  + " position change, new position: " + newDividerPosition + " // size dev: " +  selectedCallSignSplitPane.getDividers().size());
 					chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIselectedCallSignSplitPane_dividerposition()[selectedCallSignSplitPane.getDividers().indexOf(divider)] = newDividerPosition.doubleValue();
+					requestLayoutSave();
 				}
 			});

@@ -1649,9 +1650,6 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 			}
 		});

-		tbl_chatMemberTable.setTooltip(new Tooltip(
-				"Stations available \n\nUse right click to a station to select predefined texts\nor hit <strg> + <1> ... <9> to write textsnippet to selected station\n\nHit <enter> to send"));
-
 		TableColumn<ChatMember, String> callSignCol =
 				new TableColumn<ChatMember, String>("Callsign");

@@ -1669,7 +1667,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 			return new SimpleStringProperty(displayedCallsign);
 		});

-		callSignCol.setCellFactory(column -> new TableCell<ChatMember, String>() {
+		callSignCol.setCellFactory(column -> new TruncatedTextTableCell<ChatMember>() {

 			@Override
 			protected void updateItem(String item, boolean empty) {
@@ -1757,14 +1755,24 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 		 * <p>No font weight is changed here. The compact worked/grid status such as
 		 * {@code xo} is emphasized only in the worked-any column.</p>
 		 */
-		qraCol.setCellFactory(column -> new TableCell<ChatMember, String>() {
+		qraCol.setCellFactory(column -> new TruncatedTextTableCell<ChatMember>(
+				java.util.function.Function.identity(),
+				(member, value) -> {
+					String grossField = WorkedGrossFieldCache.extractGrossField(value);
+					boolean gridWorked = member != null
+							&& chatcontroller != null
+							&& chatcontroller.isGridSquareWorkedAny(member);
+					return "Grid status: "
+							+ (grossField == null ? "unknown" : grossField)
+							+ "\nGrid worked any: "
+							+ (gridWorked ? "yes" : "no");
+				}
+		) {
 			@Override
 			protected void updateItem(String item, boolean empty) {
 				super.updateItem(item, empty);

 				if (empty || item == null) {
-					setText(null);
-					setTooltip(null);
 					setStyle("");
 					return;
 				}
@@ -1774,16 +1782,6 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 						&& chatcontroller != null
 						&& chatcontroller.isGridSquareWorkedAny(member);

-				String grossField = WorkedGrossFieldCache.extractGrossField(item);
-
-				setText(item);
-				setTooltip(new Tooltip(
-						"Grid status: "
-								+ (grossField == null ? "unknown" : grossField)
-								+ "\nGrid worked any: "
-								+ (gridWorked ? "yes" : "no")
-				));
-
 				/*
 				 * Important:
 				 * Do not style the cell unless the Grid color button is active AND the
@@ -1929,7 +1927,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 		 */
 		airScoutCol.setCellFactory(new Callback<TableColumn<ChatMember, String>, TableCell<ChatMember, String>>() {
 			public TableCell call(TableColumn param) {
-				return new TableCell<ChatMember, String>() {
+				return new TruncatedTextTableCell<ChatMember>() {

 					@Override
 					public void updateItem(String item, boolean empty) {
@@ -1953,7 +1951,6 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 								this.getStyleClass().add("table-cell-50PercentAP");
 							}

-							setText(item);
 						}
 					}
 				};
@@ -2038,22 +2035,18 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 		/**
 		 * Shows the compact worked/grid status and explains it by tooltip.
 		 */
-		wkdAny_subcol.setCellFactory(column -> new TableCell<ChatMember, String>() {
+		wkdAny_subcol.setCellFactory(column -> new TruncatedTextTableCell<ChatMember>(
+				java.util.function.Function.identity(),
+				(member, value) -> buildWorkedAnyGridStatusTooltip(member)
+		) {
 			@Override
 			protected void updateItem(String item, boolean empty) {
 				super.updateItem(item, empty);

 				if (empty) {
-					setText(null);
-					setTooltip(null);
 					setStyle("");
 					return;
 				}
-
-				ChatMember member = getTableRow() == null ? null : getTableRow().getItem();
-
-				setText(item);
-				setTooltip(new Tooltip(buildWorkedAnyGridStatusTooltip(member)));
 				setAlignment(Pos.CENTER);
 				setStyle("-fx-font-weight: bold;");
 			}
@@ -2389,7 +2382,38 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 //		}, new Date(), 5000);

 		tbl_chatMemberTable.setColumnResizePolicy(TableView.UNCONSTRAINED_RESIZE_POLICY);
-		tbl_chatMemberTable.autosize();
+		applyTruncatedTextCells(
+				nameCol, qrBCol, qtfCol, tropoCol, priorityScoreCol,
+				lastActCol, notQRVCol, chatCategoryCol
+		);
+		TableLayoutManager.install(
+				tbl_chatMemberTable,
+				"chat-members",
+				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences(),
+				layoutAutosave,
+				TableLayoutManager.column("callsign", callSignCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("name", nameCol).maximumInitialWidth(220),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("qra", qraCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("qrb", qrBCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("qtf", qtfCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("qrg", qrgCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("tropo", tropoCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("score", priorityScoreCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("activity", lastActCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("airscout", airScoutCol).maximumInitialWidth(190),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("worked-any", wkdAny_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-50", sixMCol_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-70", fourMCol_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-144", vhfCol_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-432", uhfCol_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-1296", shf23_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-2320", shf13_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-3400", shf9_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-5760", shf6_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-10g", shf3_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("not-qrv", notQRVCol).maximumInitialWidth(180),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("category", chatCategoryCol)
+		);


 		/**
@@ -3120,6 +3144,24 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL

 		ObservableList<ChatMessage> toOtherMSGList = chatcontroller.getLst_toOtherMessageList();
 		tbl_furtherInfoAbtCallsignMSGTable.setItems(chatcontroller.getLst_selectedCallSignInfofilteredMessageList());
+		applyTruncatedTextCells(
+				timeCol, callSignTRCVCol, callSignRCVRCol, qrgTXerCol,
+				qrgRXerCol, workedRXCol, workedTXCol
+		);
+		TableLayoutManager.install(
+				tbl_furtherInfoAbtCallsignMSGTable,
+				"selected-station-messages",
+				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences(),
+				layoutAutosave,
+				TableLayoutManager.column("time", timeCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("call-tx", callSignTRCVCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("call-rx", callSignRCVRCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("last-qrg-tx", qrgTXerCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("last-qrg-rx", qrgRXerCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("message", msgCol).flexible(360),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("worked-rx", workedRXCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("worked-tx", workedTXCol)
+		);

 		return tbl_furtherInfoAbtCallsignMSGTable;
 	}
@@ -3281,11 +3323,11 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL

 		Tab dxClusterMessagesTab = new Tab("DXCluster messages");
 		dxClusterMessagesTab.setTooltip(new Tooltip("DXCluster spots."));
-		dxClusterMessagesTab.setContent(initDXClusterTable());
+		dxClusterMessagesTab.setContent(initDXClusterTable("dx-cluster-main"));

 		Tab qsoOfTheOtherTab = new Tab("QSO of the other");
 		qsoOfTheOtherTab.setTooltip(new Tooltip("Messages between other stations. This view is not tied to the selected ChatMember."));
-		qsoOfTheOtherTab.setContent(initChatToOtherMSGTable());
+		qsoOfTheOtherTab.setContent(initChatToOtherMSGTable("qso-other-main"));

 		bottomMessageTabs.getTabs().addAll(publicMessagesTab, dxClusterMessagesTab, qsoOfTheOtherTab);
 		bottomMessageTabs.getSelectionModel().select(publicMessagesTab);
@@ -3437,6 +3479,19 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL

 		ObservableList<ChatMessage> generalMSGList = chatcontroller.getLst_toAllMessageList();
 		tbl_generalMSGTable.setItems(generalMSGList);
+		applyTruncatedTextCells(timeCol, callSignCol, nameCol, categoryCol);
+		TableLayoutManager.install(
+				tbl_generalMSGTable,
+				"public-messages",
+				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences(),
+				layoutAutosave,
+				TableLayoutManager.column("time", timeCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("callsign", callSignCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("name", nameCol).maximumInitialWidth(220),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("message", msgCol).flexible(360),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("last-qrg", qrgCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("category", categoryCol)
+		);

 		tbl_generalMSGTable.addEventFilter(KeyEvent.KEY_PRESSED, new EventHandler<KeyEvent>() {
 			@Override
@@ -3660,7 +3715,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 		 */
 		airScoutCol.setCellFactory(new Callback<TableColumn<ChatMessage, String>, TableCell<ChatMessage, String>>() {
 			public TableCell call(TableColumn param) {
-				return new TableCell<ChatMessage, String>() {
+				return new TruncatedTextTableCell<ChatMessage>() {

 					@Override
 					public void updateItem(String item, boolean empty) {
@@ -3682,7 +3737,6 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL

 							}

-							setText(item);
 						}
 					}
 				};
@@ -3741,6 +3795,22 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL

 		ObservableList<ChatMessage> privateMSGList = chatcontroller.getLst_toMeMessageList();
 		tbl_privateMSGTable.setItems(privateMSGList);
+		applyTruncatedTextCells(timeCol, callSignCol, nameCol, qraCol, qrbCol, categoryCol);
+		TableLayoutManager.install(
+				tbl_privateMSGTable,
+				"private-messages",
+				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences(),
+				layoutAutosave,
+				TableLayoutManager.column("time", timeCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("callsign", callSignCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("name", nameCol).maximumInitialWidth(220),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("qra", qraCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("qrb", qrbCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("message", msgCol).flexible(360),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("last-qrg", qrgCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("airscout", airScoutCol).maximumInitialWidth(190),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("category", categoryCol)
+		);

 		tbl_privateMSGTable.addEventFilter(KeyEvent.KEY_PRESSED, new EventHandler<KeyEvent>() {
 			@Override
@@ -3812,7 +3882,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 		return tbl_privateMSGTable;
 	}

-	private TableView<ClusterMessage> initDXClusterTable() {
+	private TableView<ClusterMessage> initDXClusterTable(String layoutId) {

 		TableView<ClusterMessage> tbl_DXCTable = new TableView<ClusterMessage>();
 //		tbl_DXCTable.setTooltip(new Tooltip("Cluster Messages are shown here"));
@@ -3973,11 +4043,29 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL

 		ObservableList<ClusterMessage> clusterMSGList = chatcontroller.getLst_clusterMemberList();
 		tbl_DXCTable.setItems(clusterMSGList);
+		applyTruncatedTextCells(
+				timeCol, callSignCol, locTXCol, callSignRXCol,
+				locRXCol, workedCol
+		);
+		TableLayoutManager.install(
+				tbl_DXCTable,
+				layoutId,
+				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences(),
+				layoutAutosave,
+				TableLayoutManager.column("time", timeCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("call-tx", callSignCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("locator-tx", locTXCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("call-rx", callSignRXCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("locator-rx", locRXCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("qrg", qrgCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("message", msgCol).flexible(360),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("worked", workedCol)
+		);

 		return tbl_DXCTable;
 	}

-	private TableView<ChatMessage> initChatToOtherMSGTable() {
+	private TableView<ChatMessage> initChatToOtherMSGTable(String layoutId) {

 		TableView<ChatMessage> tbl_toOtherMSGTable = new TableView<ChatMessage>();
 //		tbl_toOtherMSGTable.setTooltip(new Tooltip("Messages between other member are shown here"));
@@ -4175,6 +4263,25 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL

 		ObservableList<ChatMessage> toOtherMSGList = chatcontroller.getLst_toOtherMessageList();
 		tbl_toOtherMSGTable.setItems(toOtherMSGList);
+		applyTruncatedTextCells(
+				timeCol, callSignTRCVCol, qrgTXerCol, workedTXCol,
+				callSignRCVRCol, qrgRXerCol, workedRXCol, categoryCol
+		);
+		TableLayoutManager.install(
+				tbl_toOtherMSGTable,
+				layoutId,
+				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences(),
+				layoutAutosave,
+				TableLayoutManager.column("time", timeCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("call-tx", callSignTRCVCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("last-qrg-tx", qrgTXerCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("worked-tx", workedTXCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("call-rx", callSignRCVRCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("last-qrg-rx", qrgRXerCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("worked-rx", workedRXCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("message", msgCol).flexible(360),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("category", categoryCol)
+		);

 		return tbl_toOtherMSGTable;
 	}
@@ -5261,6 +5368,28 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 		tbl_chatMemberWkdDBTable.getColumns().addAll(callSignCol, workedCol);

 		tbl_chatMemberWkdDBTable.setItems(chatcontroller.getLst_DBBasedWkdCallSignList());
+		applyTruncatedTextCells(
+				callSignCol, wkdAny_subcol, sixMCol_subcol, fourMCol_subcol,
+				vhfCol_subcol, uhfCol_subcol, shf23_subcol, shf13_subcol,
+				shf9_subcol, shf6_subcol, shf3_subcol
+		);
+		TableLayoutManager.install(
+				tbl_chatMemberWkdDBTable,
+				"worked-database",
+				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences(),
+				layoutAutosave,
+				TableLayoutManager.column("callsign", callSignCol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("worked-any", wkdAny_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-50", sixMCol_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-70", fourMCol_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-144", vhfCol_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-432", uhfCol_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-1296", shf23_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-2320", shf13_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-3400", shf9_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-5760", shf6_subcol),
+				TableLayoutManager.column("band-10g", shf3_subcol)
+		);

 		// TODO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_kp20qrtLw = tutorial dafuer

@@ -6100,6 +6229,9 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 	@Override
 	public void stop() {
 		System.out.println("[Main.java, Info:] Stage is closing, killing all resources");
+		if (layoutAutosave != null) {
+			layoutAutosave.flushPending();
+		}
 		timer_buildWindowTitle.purge();
 		timer_buildWindowTitle.cancel();

@@ -6119,6 +6251,12 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 		System.exit(0);
 	}

+	private void requestLayoutSave() {
+		if (layoutAutosave != null) {
+			layoutAutosave.requestSave();
+		}
+	}
+
 	private Queue<Media> musicList = new LinkedList<Media>();
 	private MediaPlayer mediaPlayer ;

@@ -6544,6 +6682,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 		ChatMember ownChatMemberObject = new ChatMember();

 		chatcontroller = new ChatController(ownChatMemberObject, this); // instantiate the Chatcontroller with the user object
+		layoutAutosave = new LayoutAutosave(chatcontroller.getChatPreferences());
 		messageVariableResolver = new MessageVariableResolver(chatcontroller.getChatPreferences());
 		chatcontroller.setStatusListener(this); //callback interface for updating Thread events in visual

@@ -6687,6 +6826,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 				@Override
 				public void changed(ObservableValue<? extends Number> observableValue, Number number, Number newWidthValue) {
 					chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW()[1] = newWidthValue.doubleValue();
+					requestLayoutSave();
 				}
 			});

@@ -6694,6 +6834,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 				@Override
 				public void changed(ObservableValue<? extends Number> observableValue, Number number, Number newHeightValue) {
 					chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW()[0] = newHeightValue.doubleValue();
+					requestLayoutSave();
 				}
 			});

@@ -7399,6 +7540,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 					public void changed(ObservableValue<? extends Number> observableValue, Number oldDividerPos, Number newDividerPosition) {
 						System.out.println("<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< devider>>>>>> " + messageSectionSplitpane.getDividers().indexOf(divider)  + " position change, new position: " + newDividerPosition + " // size dev: " +  messageSectionSplitpane.getDividers().size());
 						chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUImessageSectionSplitpane_dividerposition()[messageSectionSplitpane.getDividers().indexOf(divider)] = newDividerPosition.doubleValue();
+						requestLayoutSave();
 					}
 				});

@@ -8582,6 +8724,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 					public void changed(ObservableValue<? extends Number> observableValue, Number oldDividerPos, Number newDividerPosition) {
 						System.out.println("<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< mainWindowLeftSplitPanedevider " + mainWindowLeftSplitPane.getDividers().indexOf(divider)  + " position change, new position: " + newDividerPosition + " // size dev: " +  mainWindowLeftSplitPane.getDividers().size());
 						chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUImainWindowLeftSplitPane_dividerposition()[mainWindowLeftSplitPane.getDividers().indexOf(divider)] = newDividerPosition.doubleValue();
+						requestLayoutSave();
 					}
 				});

@@ -8615,6 +8758,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL

 						if (dividerIndex >= 0 && dividerIndex < storedPositions.length) {
 							storedPositions[dividerIndex] = newDividerPosition.doubleValue();
+							requestLayoutSave();
 						} else {
 							// Avoid crashes if preferences are older than the current UI layout.
 							System.out.println("WARN: cannot store mainWindowRightSplitPane divider position: index="
@@ -8663,7 +8807,10 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 		SplitPane pnl_directedMSGWin = new SplitPane();
 		pnl_directedMSGWin.setOrientation(Orientation.VERTICAL);
 		pnl_directedMSGWin.setDividerPositions(chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIpnl_directedMSGWin_dividerpositionDefault());
-		pnl_directedMSGWin.getItems().addAll(initDXClusterTable(), initChatToOtherMSGTable());
+		pnl_directedMSGWin.getItems().addAll(
+				initDXClusterTable("dx-cluster-monitor"),
+				initChatToOtherMSGTable("qso-other-monitor")
+		);


 		/**
@@ -8676,6 +8823,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 				public void changed(ObservableValue<? extends Number> observableValue, Number oldDividerPos, Number newDividerPosition) {
 					System.out.println("<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<|||||||||||||||||||| devider " + pnl_directedMSGWin.getDividers().indexOf(divider)  + " position change, new position: " + newDividerPosition + " // size dev: " +  pnl_directedMSGWin.getDividers().size());
 					chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIpnl_directedMSGWin_dividerpositionDefault()[pnl_directedMSGWin.getDividers().indexOf(divider)] = newDividerPosition.doubleValue();
+					requestLayoutSave();
 				}
 			});

@@ -8689,6 +8837,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 			@Override
 			public void changed(ObservableValue<? extends Number> observableValue, Number number, Number newHeightValue) {
 				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIclusterAndQSOMonStage_SceneSizeHW()[1] = newHeightValue.doubleValue();
+				requestLayoutSave();
 			}
 		});

@@ -8696,6 +8845,7 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 			@Override
 			public void changed(ObservableValue<? extends Number> observableValue, Number number, Number newWidthValue) {
 				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIclusterAndQSOMonStage_SceneSizeHW()[0] = newWidthValue.doubleValue();
+				requestLayoutSave();
 			}
 		});

@@ -8809,6 +8959,14 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 		System.out.println("SRVR Version: " + chatcontroller.getUpdateInformation().getLatestVersionNumberOnServer() + " // installed version " + ApplicationConstants.APPLICATION_CURRENTVERSIONNUMBER);

 		stage_updateStage.setScene(new Scene(vbxUpdateWindow, chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIstage_updateStage_SceneSizeHW()[0], chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIstage_updateStage_SceneSizeHW()[1]));
+		stage_updateStage.getScene().widthProperty().addListener((observable, oldValue, newValue) -> {
+			chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIstage_updateStage_SceneSizeHW()[0] = newValue.doubleValue();
+			requestLayoutSave();
+		});
+		stage_updateStage.getScene().heightProperty().addListener((observable, oldValue, newValue) -> {
+			chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIstage_updateStage_SceneSizeHW()[1] = newValue.doubleValue();
+			requestLayoutSave();
+		});


 //		if (chatcontroller.getUpdateInformation().getLatestVersionNumberOnServer() > ApplicationConstants.APPLICATION_CURRENTVERSIONNUMBER) {
@@ -11762,7 +11920,10 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL

 				System.out.println("saved");

-				chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().writePreferencesToXmlFile();
+				if (chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().writePreferencesToXmlFile()
+						&& layoutAutosave != null) {
+					layoutAutosave.cancelPending();
+				}
 				Alert a = new Alert(AlertType.INFORMATION);

 				a.setTitle("Info");
@@ -11800,6 +11961,14 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 //        VBox vBox = new VBox(tabPaneOptions);
 		settingsScene = new Scene(optionsPanel, chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIsettingsStageSceneSizeHW()[0], chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIsettingsStageSceneSizeHW()[1]);
 		settingsScene.getStylesheets().add(ApplicationConstants.STYLECSSFILE_DEFAULT_DAYLIGHT);
+		settingsScene.widthProperty().addListener((observable, oldValue, newValue) -> {
+			chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIsettingsStageSceneSizeHW()[0] = newValue.doubleValue();
+			requestLayoutSave();
+		});
+		settingsScene.heightProperty().addListener((observable, oldValue, newValue) -> {
+			chatcontroller.getChatPreferences().getGUIsettingsStageSceneSizeHW()[1] = newValue.doubleValue();
+			requestLayoutSave();
+		});

 		settingsStage.setScene(settingsScene);

@@ -12515,13 +12684,14 @@ public class Kst4ContestApplication extends Application implements StatusUpdateL
 	}

 	private static <T> void applyQrgUiFormatting(TableColumn<T, String> col) {
-		col.setCellFactory(tc -> new TableCell<T, String>() {
-			@Override
-			protected void updateItem(String item, boolean empty) {
-				super.updateItem(item, empty);
-				setText(empty ? "" : formatQrgForUi(item));
-			}
-		});
+		col.setCellFactory(tc -> new TruncatedTextTableCell<>(Kst4ContestApplication::formatQrgForUi));
+	}
+
+	@SafeVarargs
+	private static <T> void applyTruncatedTextCells(TableColumn<T, String>... columns) {
+		for (TableColumn<T, String> column : columns) {
+			column.setCellFactory(ignored -> new TruncatedTextTableCell<>());
+		}
 	}

 	/**
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+package kst4contest.view;
+
+import javafx.animation.PauseTransition;
+import javafx.application.Platform;
+import javafx.util.Duration;
+import kst4contest.model.ChatPreferences;
+
+import java.util.Objects;
+
+/**
+ * Coalesces JavaFX layout changes into selective preferences writes.
+ */
+public final class LayoutAutosave {
+
+    private static final Duration SAVE_DELAY = Duration.millis(750);
+
+    private final ChatPreferences preferences;
+    private final PauseTransition saveDelay = new PauseTransition(SAVE_DELAY);
+    private boolean pending;
+
+    public LayoutAutosave(ChatPreferences preferences) {
+        this.preferences = Objects.requireNonNull(preferences, "preferences");
+        saveDelay.setOnFinished(event -> flushPending());
+    }
+
+    public void requestSave() {
+        if (!Platform.isFxApplicationThread()) {
+            Platform.runLater(this::requestSave);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        pending = true;
+        saveDelay.playFromStart();
+    }
+
+    public void flushPending() {
+        if (!pending) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        saveDelay.stop();
+        pending = false;
+        preferences.writeLayoutPreferencesToXmlFile();
+    }
+
+    public void cancelPending() {
+        saveDelay.stop();
+        pending = false;
+    }
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,280 @@
+package kst4contest.view;
+
+import javafx.application.Platform;
+import javafx.beans.value.ObservableValue;
+import javafx.collections.ListChangeListener;
+import javafx.scene.Node;
+import javafx.scene.control.TableColumn;
+import javafx.scene.control.TableView;
+import javafx.scene.input.MouseEvent;
+import javafx.scene.text.Font;
+import javafx.scene.text.Text;
+import kst4contest.model.ChatPreferences;
+
+import java.util.IdentityHashMap;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Objects;
+import java.util.OptionalDouble;
+
+/**
+ * Applies persisted leaf-column widths and performs one content-based initial
+ * sizing pass when no width has been stored yet.
+ */
+public final class TableLayoutManager {
+
+    private static final double CELL_HORIZONTAL_PADDING = 16.0;
+    private static final double DEFAULT_MINIMUM_WIDTH = 24.0;
+
+    private TableLayoutManager() {
+    }
+
+    public static ColumnSpec column(String id, TableColumn<?, String> column) {
+        return new ColumnSpec(id, column);
+    }
+
+    public static <S> void install(
+            TableView<S> table,
+            String tableId,
+            ChatPreferences preferences,
+            LayoutAutosave autosave,
+            ColumnSpec... columnSpecs
+    ) {
+        Objects.requireNonNull(table, "table");
+        Objects.requireNonNull(tableId, "tableId");
+        Objects.requireNonNull(preferences, "preferences");
+        Objects.requireNonNull(autosave, "autosave");
+
+        Map<TableColumn<?, String>, ColumnState> states = new IdentityHashMap<>();
+        for (ColumnSpec spec : columnSpecs) {
+            if (spec == null || !spec.column.getColumns().isEmpty()) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if (spec.column.prefWidthProperty().isBound()) {
+                spec.column.prefWidthProperty().unbind();
+            }
+            spec.column.setId(tableId + "." + spec.id);
+
+            OptionalDouble storedWidth = preferences.getTableColumnWidth(tableId, spec.id);
+            ColumnState state = new ColumnState(spec, storedWidth.isEmpty());
+            states.put(spec.column, state);
+
+            if (storedWidth.isPresent()) {
+                setWidth(state, storedWidth.getAsDouble());
+                state.initialized = true;
+            }
+
+            spec.column.widthProperty().addListener((observable, oldWidth, newWidth) -> {
+                if (state.adjusting || !state.initialized || newWidth == null) {
+                    return;
+                }
+                storeWidth(preferences, autosave, tableId, state.spec.id, newWidth.doubleValue());
+            });
+        }
+
+        installEarlyManualResizeDetection(table, tableId, preferences, autosave, states);
+        scheduleInitialSizingWhenUsable(table, tableId, preferences, autosave, states);
+    }
+
+    private static <S> void scheduleInitialSizingWhenUsable(
+            TableView<S> table,
+            String tableId,
+            ChatPreferences preferences,
+            LayoutAutosave autosave,
+            Map<TableColumn<?, String>, ColumnState> states
+    ) {
+        if (states.values().stream().noneMatch(state -> !state.initialized)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (table.getItems() != null && !table.getItems().isEmpty()) {
+            Platform.runLater(() -> sizePendingColumns(table, tableId, preferences, autosave, states));
+            return;
+        }
+
+        @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+        final ListChangeListener<S>[] holder = new ListChangeListener[1];
+        holder[0] = change -> {
+            if (table.getItems() == null || table.getItems().isEmpty()) {
+                return;
+            }
+            table.getItems().removeListener(holder[0]);
+            Platform.runLater(() -> sizePendingColumns(table, tableId, preferences, autosave, states));
+        };
+        table.getItems().addListener(holder[0]);
+    }
+
+    private static <S> void sizePendingColumns(
+            TableView<S> table,
+            String tableId,
+            ChatPreferences preferences,
+            LayoutAutosave autosave,
+            Map<TableColumn<?, String>, ColumnState> states
+    ) {
+        for (ColumnState state : states.values()) {
+            if (state.initialized) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            double width = state.spec.flexible
+                    ? flexibleInitialWidth(table, state.spec)
+                    : contentInitialWidth(table, state.spec);
+            setWidth(state, width);
+            state.initialized = true;
+            storeWidth(preferences, autosave, tableId, state.spec.id, width);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static <S> double contentInitialWidth(TableView<S> table, ColumnSpec spec) {
+        Text measurement = new Text();
+        measurement.setFont(Font.getDefault());
+        double requiredWidth = measure(spec.column.getText(), measurement);
+        for (int rowIndex = 0; rowIndex < table.getItems().size(); rowIndex++) {
+            ObservableValue<?> value = spec.column.getCellObservableValue(rowIndex);
+            if (value == null || value.getValue() == null) {
+                continue;
+            }
+            requiredWidth = Math.max(
+                    requiredWidth,
+                    measure(String.valueOf(value.getValue()), measurement)
+            );
+        }
+        return calculateInitialContentWidth(
+                requiredWidth,
+                spec.minimumWidth,
+                spec.maximumInitialWidth
+        );
+    }
+
+    private static <S> double flexibleInitialWidth(TableView<S> table, ColumnSpec spec) {
+        double tableShare = table.getWidth() > 1.0 ? table.getWidth() * 0.42 : spec.flexibleFallbackWidth;
+        Text measurement = new Text();
+        measurement.setFont(Font.getDefault());
+        double headerWidth = measure(spec.column.getText(), measurement) + CELL_HORIZONTAL_PADDING;
+        return clamp(Math.max(headerWidth, tableShare), spec.minimumWidth, spec.maximumInitialWidth);
+    }
+
+    private static <S> void installEarlyManualResizeDetection(
+            TableView<S> table,
+            String tableId,
+            ChatPreferences preferences,
+            LayoutAutosave autosave,
+            Map<TableColumn<?, String>, ColumnState> states
+    ) {
+        Map<TableColumn<?, String>, Double> widthsAtHeaderPress = new IdentityHashMap<>();
+        table.addEventFilter(MouseEvent.MOUSE_PRESSED, event -> {
+            if (!isColumnHeaderEvent(event)) {
+                return;
+            }
+            widthsAtHeaderPress.clear();
+            states.forEach((column, state) -> widthsAtHeaderPress.put(column, column.getWidth()));
+        });
+        table.addEventFilter(MouseEvent.MOUSE_RELEASED, event -> {
+            if (widthsAtHeaderPress.isEmpty()) {
+                return;
+            }
+            states.forEach((column, state) -> {
+                Double oldWidth = widthsAtHeaderPress.get(column);
+                if (oldWidth == null || Math.abs(oldWidth - column.getWidth()) <= 0.5) {
+                    return;
+                }
+                state.initialized = true;
+                storeWidth(preferences, autosave, tableId, state.spec.id, column.getWidth());
+            });
+            widthsAtHeaderPress.clear();
+        });
+    }
+
+    private static boolean isColumnHeaderEvent(MouseEvent event) {
+        Object target = event.getTarget();
+        Node node = target instanceof Node ? (Node) target : null;
+        while (node != null && node.getParent() != null) {
+            if (node.getStyleClass().contains("column-header")
+                    || node.getStyleClass().contains("nested-column-header")) {
+                return true;
+            }
+            node = node.getParent();
+        }
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    private static void setWidth(ColumnState state, double width) {
+        state.adjusting = true;
+        try {
+            state.spec.column.setPrefWidth(width);
+        } finally {
+            state.adjusting = false;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static void storeWidth(
+            ChatPreferences preferences,
+            LayoutAutosave autosave,
+            String tableId,
+            String columnId,
+            double width
+    ) {
+        preferences.setTableColumnWidth(tableId, columnId, width);
+        autosave.requestSave();
+    }
+
+    private static double measure(String value, Text measurement) {
+        measurement.setText(value == null ? "" : value);
+        return measurement.getLayoutBounds().getWidth();
+    }
+
+    private static double clamp(double value, double minimum, double maximum) {
+        return Math.max(minimum, Math.min(value, maximum));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Calculates a compact content width. Package-private for focused sizing tests.
+     */
+    @SuppressWarnings("PMD.CommentDefaultAccessModifier")
+    static double calculateInitialContentWidth(
+            final double measuredWidth,
+            final double minimum,
+            final double maximum
+    ) {
+        return clamp(measuredWidth + CELL_HORIZONTAL_PADDING, minimum, maximum);
+    }
+
+    public static final class ColumnSpec {
+        private final String id;
+        private final TableColumn<?, String> column;
+        private double minimumWidth = DEFAULT_MINIMUM_WIDTH;
+        private double maximumInitialWidth = Double.MAX_VALUE;
+        private double flexibleFallbackWidth = 320.0;
+        private boolean flexible;
+
+        private ColumnSpec(String id, TableColumn<?, String> column) {
+            if (id == null || id.isBlank()) {
+                throw new IllegalArgumentException("Column id must not be blank");
+            }
+            this.id = id;
+            this.column = Objects.requireNonNull(column, "column");
+        }
+
+        public ColumnSpec maximumInitialWidth(double maximumInitialWidth) {
+            this.maximumInitialWidth = maximumInitialWidth;
+            return this;
+        }
+
+        public ColumnSpec flexible(double fallbackWidth) {
+            flexible = true;
+            flexibleFallbackWidth = fallbackWidth;
+            return this;
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static final class ColumnState {
+        private final ColumnSpec spec;
+        private boolean adjusting;
+        private boolean initialized;
+
+        private ColumnState(ColumnSpec spec, boolean awaitingInitialSizing) {
+            this.spec = spec;
+            initialized = !awaitingInitialSizing;
+        }
+    }
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,109 @@
+package kst4contest.view;
+
+import javafx.scene.control.TableCell;
+import javafx.scene.control.Tooltip;
+import javafx.scene.text.Text;
+import javafx.util.Duration;
+
+import java.util.function.Function;
+import java.util.function.BiFunction;
+
+/**
+ * Displays text normally and exposes the full value only when it is clipped.
+ * An optional functional explanation remains available and is combined with
+ * the full value when both are needed.
+ */
+public class TruncatedTextTableCell<S> extends TableCell<S, String> {
+
+    private final Function<String, String> formatter;
+    private final BiFunction<S, String, String> functionalTooltipProvider;
+    private final Tooltip tooltip = new Tooltip();
+    private final Text textMeasurement = new Text();
+    private String fullText = "";
+
+    public TruncatedTextTableCell() {
+        this(Function.identity(), null);
+    }
+
+    public TruncatedTextTableCell(Function<String, String> formatter) {
+        this(formatter, null);
+    }
+
+    public TruncatedTextTableCell(
+            Function<String, String> formatter,
+            BiFunction<S, String, String> functionalTooltipProvider
+    ) {
+        this.formatter = formatter == null ? Function.identity() : formatter;
+        this.functionalTooltipProvider = functionalTooltipProvider;
+        tooltip.setWrapText(true);
+        tooltip.setMaxWidth(800);
+        tooltip.setShowDelay(Duration.millis(250));
+        tooltip.setShowDuration(Duration.seconds(30));
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void updateItem(String item, boolean empty) {
+        super.updateItem(item, empty);
+        if (empty || item == null) {
+            fullText = "";
+            setText(null);
+            setGraphic(null);
+            setTooltip(null);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        String formatted = formatter.apply(item);
+        fullText = formatted == null ? "" : formatted;
+        setText(fullText);
+        setGraphic(null);
+        updateTooltip();
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    protected void layoutChildren() {
+        super.layoutChildren();
+        updateTooltip();
+    }
+
+    private void updateTooltip() {
+        if (isEmpty()) {
+            setTooltip(null);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        String functionalText = resolveFunctionalTooltip();
+        boolean clipped = isTextClipped();
+        String tooltipText = TruncatedTextTooltipSupport.buildTooltipText(
+                fullText,
+                clipped,
+                functionalText
+        );
+        if (tooltipText == null) {
+            setTooltip(null);
+            return;
+        }
+
+        tooltip.setText(tooltipText);
+        setTooltip(tooltip);
+    }
+
+    private String resolveFunctionalTooltip() {
+        if (functionalTooltipProvider == null || getTableRow() == null) {
+            return null;
+        }
+        return functionalTooltipProvider.apply(getTableRow().getItem(), fullText);
+    }
+
+    private boolean isTextClipped() {
+        if (fullText.isEmpty()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        textMeasurement.setText(fullText);
+        textMeasurement.setFont(getFont());
+        double requiredWidth = textMeasurement.getLayoutBounds().getWidth();
+        double availableWidth = Math.max(0.0,
+                getWidth() - snappedLeftInset() - snappedRightInset() - 2.0);
+        return TruncatedTextTooltipSupport.isTextClipped(requiredWidth, availableWidth);
+    }
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package kst4contest.view;
+
+/**
+ * Pure tooltip decisions kept separate from JavaFX controls for unit testing.
+ */
+final class TruncatedTextTooltipSupport {
+
+    private TruncatedTextTooltipSupport() {
+    }
+
+    static boolean isTextClipped(double requiredWidth, double availableWidth) {
+        return requiredWidth > availableWidth + 1.0;
+    }
+
+    static String buildTooltipText(String fullText, boolean clipped, String functionalText) {
+        boolean hasFunctionalText = functionalText != null && !functionalText.isBlank();
+        if (!clipped && !hasFunctionalText) {
+            return null;
+        }
+        if (!clipped) {
+            return functionalText;
+        }
+        if (!hasFunctionalText) {
+            return fullText;
+        }
+        return fullText + "\n\n" + functionalText;
+    }
+}
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets;
 * - grid / beam / connection use non-interactive panes
 * - JavaScript errors are forwarded to Java through javaMapBridge
 * - setTheme(light|dark) aligns the map with the JavaFX application theme
+ * - setStationClusteringEnabled(boolean) re-renders the existing station data
 *
 * Important:
 * This version intentionally uses integer Leaflet zoom levels again.
@@ -356,6 +357,7 @@ public final class MapHtmlResources {
                         */
                        let stationData = [];
                        let stationsByCallsignRaw = {};
+                        let stationClusteringEnabled = true;

                        let clustersById = {};
                        let clusterSequence = 0;
@@ -810,13 +812,19 @@ public final class MapHtmlResources {
                                return;
                            }

-                            if (Number(map.getZoom()) >= KST_CLUSTER_DISABLE_ZOOM) {
+                            if (!stationClusteringEnabled
+                                    || Number(map.getZoom()) >= KST_CLUSTER_DISABLE_ZOOM) {
                                renderAllStationsIndividually();
                            } else {
                                renderClusteredStations();
                            }
                        }

+                        function setStationClusteringEnabled(enabled) {
+                            stationClusteringEnabled = Boolean(enabled);
+                            renderStationMarkers();
+                        }
+
                        /**
                         * Zooms into a cluster.
                         *
@@ -1271,6 +1279,7 @@ public final class MapHtmlResources {
                            getViewportState: getViewportState,
                            setHome: setHome,
                            setStations: setStations,
+                            setStationClusteringEnabled: setStationClusteringEnabled,
                            setBeam: setBeam,
                            setConnection: setConnection,
                            setProfileHoverPoint: setProfileHoverPoint,
@@ -1284,4 +1293,4 @@ public final class MapHtmlResources {
                </html>
                """.replace("__TILE_PROXY_PORT__", String.valueOf(tileProxyPort));
    }
-}
+}
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ public final class StationMapView {
    private final Label detailPathModeValue = new Label("-");

    private final ChatPreferences chatPreferences;
+    private final Runnable layoutSaveRequester;

    private final Stage stage = new Stage();
    private final WebView webView = new WebView();
@@ -89,6 +90,9 @@ public final class StationMapView {

    private final Button resetViewButton = new Button("Reset view");
    private final Tooltip statusTooltip = new Tooltip();
+    private final CheckBox stationClusteringCheckBox = new CheckBox("Group nearby stations");
+    private final Tooltip stationClusteringTooltip = new Tooltip(
+            "Group nearby stations into clusters at lower zoom levels.");

    private Runnable onResetView;

@@ -180,7 +184,12 @@ public final class StationMapView {


    public StationMapView(ChatPreferences chatPreferences) {
+        this(chatPreferences, () -> { });
+    }
+
+    public StationMapView(ChatPreferences chatPreferences, Runnable layoutSaveRequester) {
        this.chatPreferences = Objects.requireNonNull(chatPreferences, "chatPreferences");
+        this.layoutSaveRequester = Objects.requireNonNull(layoutSaveRequester, "layoutSaveRequester");
        GuiUtils.applyApplicationIcon(stage);

        try {
@@ -327,6 +336,21 @@ public final class StationMapView {
            }
        });

+        stationClusteringCheckBox.setMinWidth(Region.USE_PREF_SIZE);
+        stationClusteringCheckBox.setTooltip(stationClusteringTooltip);
+        stationClusteringCheckBox.setAccessibleText("Group nearby stations");
+        stationClusteringCheckBox.setAccessibleHelp(stationClusteringTooltip.getText());
+        stationClusteringCheckBox.setSelected(chatPreferences.isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled());
+        stationClusteringCheckBox.selectedProperty().addListener((obs, oldValue, newValue) -> {
+            boolean enabled = newValue;
+            chatPreferences.setGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled(enabled);
+            if (mapReady) {
+                executeMapScriptSafely(
+                        "window.kstMapApi.setStationClusteringEnabled(" + enabled + ");");
+            }
+            layoutSaveRequester.run();
+        });
+
        pathAnalysisVisibilityButton.setMinWidth(Region.USE_PREF_SIZE);
        pathAnalysisVisibilityButton.setTooltip(pathAnalysisVisibilityTooltip);
        pathAnalysisVisibilityButton.setOnAction(event ->
@@ -461,17 +485,25 @@ public final class StationMapView {
            stage.setY(pos[1]);
        }

-        stage.widthProperty().addListener((obs, oldValue, newValue) ->
-                chatPreferences.getGUIstationMapStageSceneSizeHW()[0] = newValue.doubleValue());
+        stage.widthProperty().addListener((obs, oldValue, newValue) -> {
+            chatPreferences.getGUIstationMapStageSceneSizeHW()[0] = newValue.doubleValue();
+            layoutSaveRequester.run();
+        });

-        stage.heightProperty().addListener((obs, oldValue, newValue) ->
-                chatPreferences.getGUIstationMapStageSceneSizeHW()[1] = newValue.doubleValue());
+        stage.heightProperty().addListener((obs, oldValue, newValue) -> {
+            chatPreferences.getGUIstationMapStageSceneSizeHW()[1] = newValue.doubleValue();
+            layoutSaveRequester.run();
+        });

-        stage.xProperty().addListener((obs, oldValue, newValue) ->
-                chatPreferences.getGUIstationMapStagePositionXY()[0] = newValue.doubleValue());
+        stage.xProperty().addListener((obs, oldValue, newValue) -> {
+            chatPreferences.getGUIstationMapStagePositionXY()[0] = newValue.doubleValue();
+            layoutSaveRequester.run();
+        });

-        stage.yProperty().addListener((obs, oldValue, newValue) ->
-                chatPreferences.getGUIstationMapStagePositionXY()[1] = newValue.doubleValue());
+        stage.yProperty().addListener((obs, oldValue, newValue) -> {
+            chatPreferences.getGUIstationMapStagePositionXY()[1] = newValue.doubleValue();
+            layoutSaveRequester.run();
+        });

        stage.setOnShown(event -> Platform.runLater(() -> {
            webView.requestFocus();
@@ -521,6 +553,7 @@ public final class StationMapView {
                statusLabel,
                triggerClusterSpotButton,
                resetViewButton,
+                stationClusteringCheckBox,
                pathAnalysisHiddenHintLabel,
                pathAnalysisVisibilityButton
        );
@@ -794,6 +827,9 @@ public final class StationMapView {
                window.setMember("javaMapBridge", javaMapBridge);

                executeMapScriptSafely("window.kstMapApi.init();");
+                executeMapScriptSafely(
+                        "window.kstMapApi.setStationClusteringEnabled("
+                                + chatPreferences.isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled() + ");");

                mapReady = true;
                applyMapThemeToWebView(chatPreferences.isGUI_darkModeActive());
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+package kst4contest.test;
+
+import kst4contest.model.ChatPreferences;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.io.TempDir;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
+
+class ChatPreferencesLayoutPersistenceTest {
+
+    @TempDir
+    Path temporaryDirectory;
+
+    @Test
+    void columnWidthsSurviveFullXmlRoundTripAndLayoutsStayIndependent() {
+        Path preferencesFile = temporaryDirectory.resolve("preferences.xml");
+        ChatPreferences written = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        written.setTableColumnWidth("dx-cluster-main", "message", 410.5);
+        written.setTableColumnWidth("dx-cluster-monitor", "message", 275.25);
+
+        assertTrue(written.writePreferencesToXmlFile());
+
+        ChatPreferences restored = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        assertTrue(restored.readPreferencesFromXmlFile());
+        assertEquals(410.5,
+                restored.getTableColumnWidth("dx-cluster-main", "message").orElseThrow());
+        assertEquals(275.25,
+                restored.getTableColumnWidth("dx-cluster-monitor", "message").orElseThrow());
+        assertFalse(restored.getTableColumnWidth("qso-other-main", "message").isPresent());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void legacyXmlWithoutColumnWidthsKeepsWidthsAbsent() throws IOException {
+        Path preferencesFile = temporaryDirectory.resolve("legacy.xml");
+        Files.writeString(preferencesFile, """
+                <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                <praktiKST>
+                    <configVersion>5</configVersion>
+                    <guiOptions>
+                        <GUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW>768;1234</GUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW>
+                    </guiOptions>
+                </praktiKST>
+                """);
+
+        ChatPreferences restored = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        assertTrue(restored.readPreferencesFromXmlFile());
+
+        assertFalse(restored.getTableColumnWidth("public-messages", "time").isPresent());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void invalidColumnWidthEntriesAreIgnored() throws IOException {
+        Path preferencesFile = temporaryDirectory.resolve("invalid.xml");
+        Files.writeString(preferencesFile, """
+                <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                <praktiKST>
+                    <configVersion>6</configVersion>
+                    <guiOptions>
+                        <tableColumnWidth tableId="public-messages" columnId="callsign" pixels="NaN"/>
+                        <tableColumnWidth tableId="public-messages" columnId="name" pixels="-20"/>
+                        <tableColumnWidth tableId="public-messages" columnId="category" pixels="999999"/>
+                        <tableColumnWidth tableId="public-messages" columnId="time" pixels="88.5"/>
+                    </guiOptions>
+                </praktiKST>
+                """);
+
+        ChatPreferences restored = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        assertTrue(restored.readPreferencesFromXmlFile());
+
+        assertFalse(restored.getTableColumnWidth("public-messages", "callsign").isPresent());
+        assertFalse(restored.getTableColumnWidth("public-messages", "name").isPresent());
+        assertFalse(restored.getTableColumnWidth("public-messages", "category").isPresent());
+        assertEquals(88.5,
+                restored.getTableColumnWidth("public-messages", "time").orElseThrow());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void selectiveLayoutWritePreservesDiskSettingsAndUnknownXml() throws IOException {
+        Path preferencesFile = temporaryDirectory.resolve("selective.xml");
+        Files.writeString(preferencesFile, """
+                <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                <praktiKST>
+                    <configVersion>5</configVersion>
+                    <station>
+                        <LoginCallSign>SAVED-CALL</LoginCallSign>
+                    </station>
+                    <futureExtension mode="keep-me"><value>42</value></futureExtension>
+                    <guiOptions>
+                        <GUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW>700;1100</GUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW>
+                        <futureLayoutValue>untouched</futureLayoutValue>
+                    </guiOptions>
+                </praktiKST>
+                """);
+
+        ChatPreferences preferences = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        assertTrue(preferences.readPreferencesFromXmlFile());
+        preferences.setStn_loginCallSign("UNSAVED-CALL");
+        preferences.getGUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW()[0] = 812;
+        preferences.getGUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW()[1] = 1340;
+        preferences.setGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled(false);
+        preferences.setTableColumnWidth("qso-other-monitor", "call-tx", 123.75);
+
+        assertTrue(preferences.writeLayoutPreferencesToXmlFile());
+
+        String writtenXml = Files.readString(preferencesFile);
+        assertTrue(writtenXml.contains("<LoginCallSign>SAVED-CALL</LoginCallSign>"));
+        assertFalse(writtenXml.contains("UNSAVED-CALL"));
+        assertTrue(writtenXml.contains("<futureExtension mode=\"keep-me\">"));
+        assertTrue(writtenXml.contains("<futureLayoutValue>untouched</futureLayoutValue>"));
+        assertTrue(writtenXml.contains("<configVersion>7</configVersion>"));
+        assertTrue(writtenXml.contains("<GUIscn_ChatwindowMainSceneSizeHW>812.0;1340.0"));
+        assertTrue(writtenXml.contains("<GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled>false"
+                + "</GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled>"));
+
+        ChatPreferences restored = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        assertTrue(restored.readPreferencesFromXmlFile());
+        assertEquals("SAVED-CALL", restored.getStn_loginCallSign());
+        assertFalse(restored.isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled());
+        assertEquals(123.75,
+                restored.getTableColumnWidth("qso-other-monitor", "call-tx").orElseThrow());
+    }
+
+    private ChatPreferences preferencesAt(Path preferencesFile) {
+        ChatPreferences preferences = new ChatPreferences();
+        preferences.setStoreAndRestorePreferencesFileName(preferencesFile.toString());
+        return preferences;
+    }
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+package kst4contest.test;
+
+import kst4contest.model.ChatPreferences;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.io.TempDir;
+
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.nio.file.Files;
+import java.nio.file.Path;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
+
+class ChatPreferencesStationMapClusteringTest {
+
+    @TempDir
+    Path temporaryDirectory;
+
+    @Test
+    void clusteringIsEnabledByDefault() {
+        assertTrue(new ChatPreferences().isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void disabledClusteringSurvivesFullXmlRoundTrip() throws IOException {
+        Path preferencesFile = temporaryDirectory.resolve("preferences.xml");
+        ChatPreferences written = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        written.setGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled(false);
+
+        assertTrue(written.writePreferencesToXmlFile());
+
+        String writtenXml = Files.readString(preferencesFile);
+        assertTrue(writtenXml.contains("<configVersion>7</configVersion>"));
+        assertTrue(writtenXml.contains("<GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled>false"
+                + "</GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled>"));
+
+        ChatPreferences restored = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        assertTrue(restored.readPreferencesFromXmlFile());
+        assertFalse(restored.isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void versionSixWithoutClusteringSettingKeepsClusteringEnabled() throws IOException {
+        Path preferencesFile = temporaryDirectory.resolve("version-six.xml");
+        Files.writeString(preferencesFile, """
+                <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                <praktiKST>
+                    <configVersion>6</configVersion>
+                    <guiOptions>
+                        <GUIstationMapStageSceneSizeHW>1000.0;800.0</GUIstationMapStageSceneSizeHW>
+                    </guiOptions>
+                </praktiKST>
+                """);
+
+        ChatPreferences restored = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        restored.setGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled(false);
+        assertTrue(restored.readPreferencesFromXmlFile());
+        assertTrue(restored.isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void missingGuiOptionsKeepsClusteringEnabled() throws IOException {
+        Path preferencesFile = temporaryDirectory.resolve("missing.xml");
+        Files.writeString(preferencesFile, """
+                <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                <praktiKST>
+                    <configVersion>6</configVersion>
+                </praktiKST>
+                """);
+
+        ChatPreferences restored = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        restored.setGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled(false);
+        assertTrue(restored.readPreferencesFromXmlFile());
+        assertTrue(restored.isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void invalidClusteringValueKeepsClusteringEnabled() throws IOException {
+        Path preferencesFile = temporaryDirectory.resolve("invalid.xml");
+        Files.writeString(preferencesFile, """
+                <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+                <praktiKST>
+                    <configVersion>7</configVersion>
+                    <guiOptions>
+                        <GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled>sometimes</GUIstationMapClusteringEnabled>
+                    </guiOptions>
+                </praktiKST>
+                """);
+
+        ChatPreferences restored = preferencesAt(preferencesFile);
+        restored.setGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled(false);
+        assertTrue(restored.readPreferencesFromXmlFile());
+        assertTrue(restored.isGUIstationMapClusteringEnabled());
+    }
+
+    private ChatPreferences preferencesAt(Path preferencesFile) {
+        ChatPreferences preferences = new ChatPreferences();
+        preferences.setStoreAndRestorePreferencesFileName(preferencesFile.toString());
+        return preferences;
+    }
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package kst4contest.test;
+
+import kst4contest.view.map.MapHtmlResources;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
+
+class MapHtmlResourcesContractTest {
+
+    @Test
+    void stationClusteringCanBeToggledWithoutReplacingStationData() {
+        String html = MapHtmlResources.createStationMapHtml(12345);
+
+        assertTrue(html.contains("let stationClusteringEnabled = true;"));
+        assertTrue(html.contains("if (!stationClusteringEnabled"));
+        assertTrue(html.contains("|| Number(map.getZoom()) >= KST_CLUSTER_DISABLE_ZOOM)"));
+        assertTrue(html.contains("function setStationClusteringEnabled(enabled)"));
+
+        int setterStart = html.indexOf("function setStationClusteringEnabled(enabled)");
+        int setterEnd = html.indexOf('}', setterStart);
+        String setterBody = html.substring(setterStart, setterEnd);
+        int stateUpdate = setterBody.indexOf("stationClusteringEnabled = Boolean(enabled);");
+        int markerRender = setterBody.indexOf("renderStationMarkers();");
+
+        assertTrue(stateUpdate >= 0);
+        assertTrue(markerRender > stateUpdate);
+        assertFalse(setterBody.contains("stationData ="));
+        assertTrue(html.contains("setStationClusteringEnabled: setStationClusteringEnabled"));
+    }
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+package kst4contest.view;
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+
+class TableLayoutManagerTest {
+
+    @Test
+    void contentWidthUsesCompactPadding() {
+        assertEquals(116.0, TableLayoutManager.calculateInitialContentWidth(100.0, 24.0, 200.0));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void contentWidthStillHonorsMinimumAndMaximum() {
+        assertEquals(24.0, TableLayoutManager.calculateInitialContentWidth(0.0, 24.0, 200.0));
+        assertEquals(200.0, TableLayoutManager.calculateInitialContentWidth(250.0, 24.0, 200.0));
+    }
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package kst4contest.view;
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertFalse;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertNull;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
+
+class TruncatedTextTableCellTest {
+
+    @Test
+    void plainFullTextTooltipIsShownOnlyForClippedText() {
+        assertNull(TruncatedTextTooltipSupport.buildTooltipText("complete", false, null));
+        assertEquals("complete",
+                TruncatedTextTooltipSupport.buildTooltipText("complete", true, null));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void functionalTooltipRemainsAndCombinesWithClippedValue() {
+        assertEquals("Worked status",
+                TruncatedTextTooltipSupport.buildTooltipText("X", false, "Worked status"));
+        assertEquals("Long value\n\nWorked status",
+                TruncatedTextTooltipSupport.buildTooltipText("Long value", true, "Worked status"));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void clippingComparisonUsesAvailableRenderedWidth() {
+        assertFalse(TruncatedTextTooltipSupport.isTextClipped(100, 100));
+        assertTrue(TruncatedTextTooltipSupport.isTextClipped(102, 100));
+    }
+}
@@ -44,6 +44,8 @@ The map retains the context already known by KST4Contest:

 Only stations with a usable six-character locator can be positioned. Active chat variants of the same normalised base callsign are combined into one marker, while their actual message destinations remain separate.

+At lower zoom levels, **Group nearby stations** keeps dense map areas readable by combining close markers into screen-based clusters. The grouping can be disabled immediately without changing the current viewport or selection, and KST4Contest remembers the choice. This setting does not split the geographical marker shared by active variants of the same base callsign.
+
 Green has a specific meaning: it marks a directional opportunity derived from directed ON4KST messages. It does not merely mean that the marker happens to lie inside the local antenna sector.

 ## Selection remains connected to the chat
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+---
+title: Version 1.43.1 released
+summary: Reliable log synchronisation, persistent layouts and better DX Cluster compatibility
+date: 2026-09-03
+---
+
+## Version 1.43.1
+
+Version 1.43 focuses on the parts of KST4Contest that have to keep working during a long contest: ON4KST connection monitoring, log synchronisation, Worked information and the data sent to external logging software.
+
+The first v1.43.0 packages already contained all functional changes described below, but some embedded version metadata still identified the build as version 1.42. v1.43.1 corrects this. If you already downloaded v1.43.0, use v1.43.1 instead.
+
+### What changed
+
+- **More reliable log synchronisation:** The Simplelogfile parser now closes the selected file after every pass, handles suffix variants by their base callsign and reports when a missing file has been created. UCXLog-compatible packets and Win-Test events share the same band normalisation, including the existing microwave bands.
+- **Correct Worked state after login:** Persisted Worked information is applied before the initial ON4KST user list becomes visible. Reconnects and both chat categories therefore start with the correct state.
+- **No false disconnect on a quiet server:** KST4Contest actively checks a quiet ON4KST session before treating it as dead. A period without new activity lines no longer causes an unnecessary reconnect.
+- **DX Cluster compatibility:** Local spots now use a fixed, DXSpider-compatible 75-character line format that is also accepted reliably by DXLog. Frequencies up to 24 GHz keep the required column positions.
+- **Layouts that stay where you put them:** Table column widths, window sizes and relevant dividers are saved automatically. Truncated table values expose their full text in a tooltip.
+- **Controllable map grouping:** **Group nearby stations** switches map clustering on or off without changing the current viewport or selected station.
+- **Smaller corrections:** Complete QRGs without a decimal separator are recognised across the supported bands, and private-message age highlighting no longer remains attached to reused table rows.
+
+The complete technical list is available in the [changelog](/manual/en/changelog/) and the [GitHub release notes](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/tag/v1.43.1).
+
+### Getting it
+
+Packages for Windows, Linux and macOS are available on the [download page](/download/) and in the [GitHub release](https://github.com/praktimarc/kst4contest/releases/tag/v1.43.1). The AUR packages are updated through their normal release workflow.
+
+The German and English manuals have also been revised. The new contest-workflow chapter connects the individual functions into a practical operating sequence instead of describing them only in isolation. 73
Author	SHA1	Message	Date
Marc Froehlich	7ee50267ec	Document v1.43 and fix release metadata	2026-09-03 23:42:17 +02:00
Marc Froehlich	113e843111	updated version strings now corrected	2026-09-03 22:31:05 +02:00
github-actions[bot]	79161d2afa	chore: update AUR packages to v1.43.0 [skip ci]	2026-09-03 20:23:04 +00:00
Marc Froehlich	3ed1cad5ab	updated version strings	2026-09-03 22:20:26 +02:00
Marc Froehlich	75fe45b50b	updated version string	2026-09-03 22:16:23 +02:00
Marc Froehlich	53555cbe69	Add optional station map clustering toggle (solves #79 ) and added documentation	2026-09-03 01:26:19 +02:00
Marc Froehlich	595fb84362	Persist table layouts just after changing the real used sizes and show truncated cell tooltips in the whole applications tables v2	2026-09-03 00:26:16 +02:00
Marc Froehlich	9eb0550106	Persist table layouts just after changing the real used sizes and show truncated cell tooltips in the whole applications tables	2026-09-02 23:45:19 +02:00