I can’t get column width to do anything at all no matter what options are checked
Well, TotalFinder internals wildly differ between OS versions. I assume you are using the latest TotalFinder, but what version of macOS do you have?
Also please note that auto-column widths apply only to views in “Column View” mode.
Sorry, It is Sierra latest and TF latest. I forgot column width was only for column view. Isn’t there a simple way to get column width in list view working too? I know the old obsolete Xtrafinder had it enabled and it did work in prior OS’es. Most power users who would be customers of TF most likley use list view.