diff --git a/src/lay/lay/images/error2_16.png b/src/lay/lay/images/error2_16.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f2b7ab6ea
Binary files /dev/null and b/src/lay/lay/images/error2_16.png differ
diff --git a/src/lay/lay/layResources.qrc b/src/lay/lay/layResources.qrc
index 6d7bbd6b0..abaeec830 100644
--- a/src/lay/lay/layResources.qrc
+++ b/src/lay/lay/layResources.qrc
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@
         <file alias="warn_16.png">images/warn_16.png</file>
         <file alias="empty_16.png">images/empty_16.png</file>
         <file alias="error_16.png">images/error_16.png</file>
+        <file alias="error2_16.png">images/error2_16.png</file>
         <file alias="info_16.png">images/info_16.png</file>
         <file alias="marked_24.png">images/marked_24.png</file>
         <file alias="marked_64.png">images/marked_64.png</file>
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserPage.ui b/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserPage.ui
index b07725cd6..309d098d8 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserPage.ui
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/NetlistBrowserPage.ui
@@ -241,6 +241,9 @@
          <attribute name="headerCascadingSectionResizes">
           <bool>false</bool>
          </attribute>
+         <attribute name="headerShowSortIndicator" stdset="0">
+          <bool>false</bool>
+         </attribute>
          <attribute name="headerStretchLastSection">
           <bool>false</bool>
          </attribute>
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layIndexedNetlistModel.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layIndexedNetlistModel.cc
index a9327b6b3..8d59581a5 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layIndexedNetlistModel.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layIndexedNetlistModel.cc
@@ -191,16 +191,6 @@ static size_t index_from_attr (const std::pair<const Attr *, const Attr *> &attr
   return cc->second;
 }
 
-std::string
-SingleIndexedNetlistModel::column_title (int section) const
-{
-  if (section == 0) {
-    return tl::to_string (tr ("Object"));
-  } else if (section == 1) {
-    return tl::to_string (tr ("Connections"));
-  }
-}
-
 size_t
 SingleIndexedNetlistModel::circuit_count () const
 {
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layIndexedNetlistModel.h b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layIndexedNetlistModel.h
index d60711f36..57da1d065 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layIndexedNetlistModel.h
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layIndexedNetlistModel.h
@@ -70,8 +70,6 @@ public:
   typedef std::pair<const db::Pin *, const db::Pin *> pin_pair;
   typedef std::pair<const db::SubCircuit *, const db::SubCircuit *> subcircuit_pair;
 
-  virtual std::string column_title (int section) const = 0;
-
   virtual size_t circuit_count () const = 0;
   virtual size_t net_count (const circuit_pair &circuits) const = 0;
   virtual size_t net_terminal_count (const net_pair &nets) const = 0;
@@ -126,8 +124,6 @@ public:
     return true;
   }
 
-  virtual std::string column_title (int section) const;
-
   virtual size_t circuit_count () const;
   virtual size_t net_count (const circuit_pair &circuits) const;
   virtual size_t net_terminal_count (const net_pair &nets) const;
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserModel.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserModel.cc
index 6bb568a14..5bcc31a07 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserModel.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserModel.cc
@@ -210,6 +210,11 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::NetlistBrowserModel (QWidget *parent, db::LayoutToNetlist *
 {
   mp_indexer.reset (new SingleIndexedNetlistModel (l2ndb->netlist ()));
   connect (mp_colorizer, SIGNAL (colors_changed ()), this, SLOT (colors_changed ()));
+
+  m_object_column = 0;
+  m_status_column = -1;
+  m_first_column = 2;
+  m_second_column = -1;
 }
 
 NetlistBrowserModel::NetlistBrowserModel (QWidget *parent, db::LayoutVsSchematic *lvsdb, NetColorizer *colorizer)
@@ -217,6 +222,11 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::NetlistBrowserModel (QWidget *parent, db::LayoutVsSchematic
 {
   mp_indexer.reset (new NetlistCrossReferenceModel (lvsdb->cross_ref ()));
   connect (mp_colorizer, SIGNAL (colors_changed ()), this, SLOT (colors_changed ()));
+
+  m_object_column = 0;
+  m_status_column = 1;
+  m_first_column = 2;
+  m_second_column = 3;
 }
 
 NetlistBrowserModel::~NetlistBrowserModel ()
@@ -626,7 +636,18 @@ int
 NetlistBrowserModel::columnCount (const QModelIndex & /*parent*/) const
 {
   //  Item type & icon, link or description
-  return mp_indexer->is_single () ? 2 : 3;
+  return mp_indexer->is_single () ? 3 : 4;
+}
+
+QIcon icon_for_status (db::NetlistCrossReference::Status status)
+{
+  if (status == db::NetlistCrossReference::NoMatch || status == db::NetlistCrossReference::Mismatch) {
+    return QIcon (":/error2_16.png");
+  } else if (status == db::NetlistCrossReference::MatchWithWarning || status == db::NetlistCrossReference::Skipped) {
+    return QIcon (":/warn_16.png");
+  } else {
+    return QIcon ();
+  }
 }
 
 QVariant
@@ -636,8 +657,10 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::data (const QModelIndex &index, int role) const
     return QVariant ();
   }
 
-  if (role == Qt::DecorationRole && index.column () == 0) {
+  if (role == Qt::DecorationRole && index.column () == m_object_column) {
     return QVariant (icon (index));
+  } else if (role == Qt::DecorationRole && index.column () == m_status_column) {
+    return QVariant (icon_for_status (status (index)));
   } else if (role == Qt::DisplayRole) {
     return QVariant (text (index));
   } else if (role == Qt::UserRole) {
@@ -792,13 +815,13 @@ static QString build_url (void *id, const std::string &tag, const std::string &t
 QString
 NetlistBrowserModel::make_link_to (const std::pair<const db::Net *, const db::Net *> &nets, int column) const
 {
-  if ((! nets.first || column == 2) && (! nets.second || column == 1)) {
+  if ((! nets.first || column == m_second_column) && (! nets.second || column == m_first_column)) {
     return QString ();
   } else {
     void *id = make_id_circuit_net (mp_indexer->circuit_index (mp_indexer->parent_of (nets)), mp_indexer->net_index (nets));
-    if (mp_indexer->is_single () || column == 1) {
+    if (mp_indexer->is_single () || column == m_first_column) {
       return build_url (id, "net", str_from_expanded_name (nets.first));
-    } else if (column == 2) {
+    } else if (column == m_first_column) {
       return build_url (id, "net", str_from_expanded_name (nets.second));
     } else {
       return build_url (id, "net", str_from_expanded_names (nets, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
@@ -809,13 +832,13 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::make_link_to (const std::pair<const db::Net *, const db::Ne
 QString
 NetlistBrowserModel::make_link_to (const std::pair<const db::Device *, const db::Device *> &devices, int column) const
 {
-  if ((! devices.first || column == 2) && (! devices.second || column == 1)) {
+  if ((! devices.first || column == m_second_column) && (! devices.second || column == m_first_column)) {
     return QString ();
   } else {
     void *id = make_id_circuit_device (mp_indexer->circuit_index (mp_indexer->parent_of (devices)), mp_indexer->device_index (devices));
-    if (mp_indexer->is_single () || column == 1) {
+    if (mp_indexer->is_single () || column == m_first_column) {
       return build_url (id, "device", str_from_expanded_name (devices.first));
-    } else if (column == 2) {
+    } else if (column == m_first_column) {
       return build_url (id, "device", str_from_expanded_name (devices.second));
     } else {
       return build_url (id, "device", str_from_expanded_names (devices, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
@@ -826,13 +849,13 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::make_link_to (const std::pair<const db::Device *, const db:
 QString
 NetlistBrowserModel::make_link_to (const std::pair<const db::Pin *, const db::Pin *> &pins, const std::pair<const db::Circuit *, const db::Circuit *> &circuits, int column) const
 {
-  if ((! pins.first || column == 2) && (! pins.second || column == 1)) {
+  if ((! pins.first || column == m_second_column) && (! pins.second || column == m_first_column)) {
     return QString ();
   } else {
     void *id = make_id_circuit_pin (mp_indexer->circuit_index (circuits), mp_indexer->pin_index (pins, circuits));
-    if (mp_indexer->is_single () || column == 1) {
+    if (mp_indexer->is_single () || column == m_first_column) {
       return build_url (id, "pin", str_from_expanded_name (pins.first));
-    } else if (column == 2) {
+    } else if (column == m_second_column) {
       return build_url (id, "pin", str_from_expanded_name (pins.second));
     } else {
       return build_url (id, "pin", str_from_expanded_names (pins, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
@@ -843,13 +866,13 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::make_link_to (const std::pair<const db::Pin *, const db::Pi
 QString
 NetlistBrowserModel::make_link_to (const std::pair<const db::Circuit *, const db::Circuit *> &circuits, int column) const
 {
-  if ((! circuits.first || column == 2) && (! circuits.second || column == 1)) {
+  if ((! circuits.first || column == m_second_column) && (! circuits.second || column == m_first_column)) {
     return QString ();
   } else {
     void *id = make_id_circuit (mp_indexer->circuit_index (circuits));
-    if (mp_indexer->is_single () || column == 1) {
+    if (mp_indexer->is_single () || column == m_first_column) {
       return build_url (id, "circuit", str_from_name (circuits.first));
-    } else if (column == 2) {
+    } else if (column == m_second_column) {
       return build_url (id, "circuit", str_from_name (circuits.second));
     } else {
       return build_url (id, "circuit", str_from_names (circuits, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
@@ -860,13 +883,13 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::make_link_to (const std::pair<const db::Circuit *, const db
 QString
 NetlistBrowserModel::make_link_to (const std::pair<const db::SubCircuit *, const db::SubCircuit *> &subcircuits, int column) const
 {
-  if ((! subcircuits.first || column == 2) && (! subcircuits.second || column == 1)) {
+  if ((! subcircuits.first || column == m_second_column) && (! subcircuits.second || column == m_first_column)) {
     return QString ();
   } else {
     void *id = make_id_circuit_subcircuit (mp_indexer->circuit_index (mp_indexer->parent_of (subcircuits)), mp_indexer->subcircuit_index (subcircuits));
-    if (mp_indexer->is_single () || column == 1) {
+    if (mp_indexer->is_single () || column == m_first_column) {
       return build_url (id, "subcircuit", str_from_expanded_name (subcircuits.first));
-    } else if (column == 2) {
+    } else if (column == m_second_column) {
       return build_url (id, "subcircuit", str_from_expanded_name (subcircuits.second));
     } else {
       return build_url (id, "subcircuit", str_from_expanded_names (subcircuits, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
@@ -1020,10 +1043,10 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     //  + single mode:     name              | <empty>  | <empty>
     //  + dual mode:       name(a)/name(b)   | name(a)  | name(b)
     IndexedNetlistModel::circuit_pair circuits = circuits_from_id (id);
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
       return tl::to_qstring (str_from_names (circuits, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
-    } else if (!mp_indexer->is_single ()) {
-      return tl::to_qstring (str_from_name (index.column () == 1 ? circuits.first : circuits.second));
+    } else if (!mp_indexer->is_single () && (index.column () == m_first_column || index.column () == m_second_column)) {
+      return tl::to_qstring (str_from_name (index.column () == m_first_column ? circuits.first : circuits.second));
     }
 
   } else if (is_id_circuit_pin (id)) {
@@ -1032,10 +1055,10 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     //  + single mode:     xname             | <empty>  | <empty>
     //  + dual mode:       xname(a)/xname(b) | xname(a) | xname(b)
     IndexedNetlistModel::pin_pair pins = pins_from_id (id);
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
       return tl::to_qstring (str_from_expanded_names (pins, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
-    } else if (!mp_indexer->is_single ()) {
-      return tl::to_qstring (str_from_expanded_name (index.column () == 1 ? pins.first : pins.second));
+    } else if (!mp_indexer->is_single () && (index.column () == m_first_column || index.column () == m_second_column)) {
+      return tl::to_qstring (str_from_expanded_name (index.column () == m_first_column ? pins.first : pins.second));
     }
 
   } else if (is_id_circuit_pin_net (id)) {
@@ -1045,9 +1068,9 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     IndexedNetlistModel::pin_pair pins = pins_from_id (id);
     IndexedNetlistModel::net_pair nets = nets_from_circuit_pins (circuits, pins);
 
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
       return tl::to_qstring (str_from_expanded_names (nets, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
-    } else {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_first_column || index.column () == m_second_column) {
       return make_link_to (nets, index.column ());
     }
 
@@ -1058,19 +1081,19 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
 
     if (mp_indexer->is_single ()) {
 
-      if (index.column () == 0) {
+      if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
         return tl::to_qstring (device_string (devices.first));
-      } else if (index.column () == 1) {
+      } else if (index.column () == m_first_column) {
         return tl::to_qstring (str_from_expanded_name (devices.first));
       }
 
     } else {
 
-      if (index.column () == 0) {
+      if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
         return tl::to_qstring (devices_string (devices, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
-      } else if (index.column () == 1) {
+      } else if (index.column () == m_first_column) {
         return tl::to_qstring (str_from_expanded_name (devices.first) + field_sep + device_string (devices.first));
-      } else if (index.column () == 2) {
+      } else if (index.column () == m_second_column) {
         return tl::to_qstring (str_from_expanded_name (devices.second) + field_sep + device_string (devices.second));
       }
 
@@ -1085,11 +1108,11 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     std::pair<const db::DeviceClass *, const db::DeviceClass *> device_classes = device_classes_from_devices (devices);
     std::pair<const db::DeviceTerminalDefinition *, const db::DeviceTerminalDefinition *> termdefs = terminal_defs_from_device_classes (device_classes, terminal);
 
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
 
       return tl::to_qstring (str_from_names (termdefs, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
 
-    } else {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_first_column || index.column () == m_second_column) {
 
       IndexedNetlistModel::net_pair nets = nets_from_device_terminals (devices, termdefs);
       return make_link_to (nets, index.column ());
@@ -1101,11 +1124,11 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     //  circuit/subcircuit: header column = circuit name, second column subcircuit name
     IndexedNetlistModel::subcircuit_pair subcircuits = subcircuits_from_id (id);
     IndexedNetlistModel::circuit_pair circuit_refs = circuit_refs_from_subcircuits (subcircuits);
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
       return make_link_to (circuit_refs);
-    } else if (mp_indexer->is_single () || index.column () == 1) {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_first_column) {
       return tl::to_qstring (str_from_expanded_name (subcircuits.first));
-    } else if (index.column () == 2) {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_second_column) {
       return tl::to_qstring (str_from_expanded_name (subcircuits.second));
     }
 
@@ -1116,9 +1139,9 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     IndexedNetlistModel::circuit_pair circuit_refs = circuit_refs_from_subcircuits (subcircuits);
     IndexedNetlistModel::pin_pair pins = pins_from_id (id);
 
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
       return make_link_to (pins, circuit_refs);
-    } else {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_first_column || index.column () == m_second_column) {
       return make_link_to (nets_from_subcircuit_pins (subcircuits, pins), index.column ());
     }
 
@@ -1126,11 +1149,11 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
 
     //  circuit/net: header column = node count, second column net name
     IndexedNetlistModel::net_pair nets = nets_from_id (id);
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
       return tl::to_qstring (str_from_expanded_names (nets, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
-    } else if (index.column () == 1 && nets.first) {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_first_column && nets.first) {
       return tl::to_qstring (nets.first->expanded_name () + " (" + tl::to_string (nets.first->pin_count () + nets.first->terminal_count () + nets.first->subcircuit_pin_count ()) + ")");
-    } else if (index.column () == 2 && nets.second) {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_second_column && nets.second) {
       return tl::to_qstring (nets.second->expanded_name () + " (" + tl::to_string (nets.second->pin_count () + nets.second->terminal_count () + nets.second->subcircuit_pin_count ()) + ")");
     }
 
@@ -1139,9 +1162,9 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     //  circuit/net/pin: header column = pin name, second column empty (for now)
     IndexedNetlistModel::net_pin_pair pinrefs = net_pinrefs_from_id (id);
     IndexedNetlistModel::circuit_pair circuits = circuits_from_id (id);
-    if (mp_indexer->is_single () && index.column () == 0) {
+    if (mp_indexer->is_single () && index.column () == m_object_column) {
       return make_link_to (pins_from_pinrefs (pinrefs), circuits);
-    } else if (! mp_indexer->is_single ()) {
+    } else if (! mp_indexer->is_single () && (index.column () == m_first_column || index.column () == m_second_column)) {
       return make_link_to (pins_from_pinrefs (pinrefs), circuits, index.column ());
     }
 
@@ -1152,9 +1175,9 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     IndexedNetlistModel::subcircuit_pair subcircuits = subcircuits_from_pinrefs (pinrefs);
     IndexedNetlistModel::circuit_pair circuit_refs = circuit_refs_from_subcircuits (subcircuits);
 
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
       return make_link_to (pins_from_pinrefs (pinrefs), circuit_refs) + tl::to_qstring (field_sep) + make_link_to (circuit_refs);
-    } else {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_first_column || index.column () == m_second_column) {
       return make_link_to (subcircuits_from_pinrefs (pinrefs), index.column ());
     }
 
@@ -1168,9 +1191,9 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     IndexedNetlistModel::circuit_pair circuit_refs = circuit_refs_from_subcircuits (subcircuits);
     IndexedNetlistModel::pin_pair pins = mp_indexer->pin_from_index (circuit_refs, other_index).first;
 
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
       return make_link_to (pins, circuit_refs);
-    } else {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_first_column || index.column () == m_second_column) {
       return make_link_to (nets_from_subcircuit_pins (subcircuits, pins), index.column ());
     }
 
@@ -1180,7 +1203,7 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     IndexedNetlistModel::net_terminal_pair refs = net_terminalrefs_from_id (id);
     IndexedNetlistModel::device_pair devices = devices_from_termrefs (refs);
 
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
 
       std::pair<const db::DeviceTerminalDefinition *, const db::DeviceTerminalDefinition *> termdefs = terminal_defs_from_terminal_refs (refs);
 
@@ -1190,7 +1213,7 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
         return tl::to_qstring (str_from_names (termdefs, mp_indexer->is_single ()) + field_sep + devices_string (devices, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
       }
 
-    } else {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_first_column || index.column () == m_second_column) {
       return make_link_to (devices, index.column ());
     }
 
@@ -1204,11 +1227,11 @@ NetlistBrowserModel::text (const QModelIndex &index) const
     std::pair<const db::DeviceClass *, const db::DeviceClass *> device_classes = device_classes_from_devices (devices);
     std::pair<const db::DeviceTerminalDefinition *, const db::DeviceTerminalDefinition *> termdefs = terminal_defs_from_device_classes (device_classes, other_index);
 
-    if (index.column () == 0) {
+    if (index.column () == m_object_column) {
 
       return tl::to_qstring (str_from_names (termdefs, mp_indexer->is_single ()));
 
-    } else {
+    } else if (index.column () == m_first_column || index.column () == m_second_column) {
 
       IndexedNetlistModel::net_pair nets = nets_from_device_terminals (devices, termdefs);
       return make_link_to (nets, index.column ());
@@ -1731,10 +1754,26 @@ QVariant
 NetlistBrowserModel::headerData (int section, Qt::Orientation /*orientation*/, int role) const
 {
   if (role == Qt::DisplayRole) {
-    return tl::to_qstring (mp_indexer->column_title (section));
-  } else {
-    return QVariant ();
+
+    if (mp_indexer->is_single ()) {
+      if (section == m_object_column) {
+        return tr ("Object");
+      } else if (section == m_first_column) {
+        return tr ("Connections");
+      }
+    } else {
+      if (section == m_object_column) {
+        return tr ("Objects");
+      } else if (section == m_first_column) {
+        return tr ("Layout");
+      } else if (section == m_second_column) {
+        return tr ("Reference");
+      }
+    }
+
   }
+
+  return QVariant ();
 }
 
 QModelIndex
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserModel.h b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserModel.h
index b2987d0d4..f288996c6 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserModel.h
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserModel.h
@@ -125,6 +125,11 @@ public:
 
   QModelIndex index_from_id (void *id, int column) const;
 
+  int status_column () const
+  {
+    return m_status_column;
+  }
+
   std::pair<const db::Net *, const db::Net *> net_from_index (const QModelIndex &index) const;
   QModelIndex index_from_net (const std::pair<const db::Net *, const db::Net *> &net) const;
   QModelIndex index_from_net (const db::Net *net) const;
@@ -210,6 +215,10 @@ private:
   std::auto_ptr<IndexedNetlistModel> mp_indexer;
   mutable std::map<lay::color_t, QIcon> m_net_icon_per_color;
   mutable std::map<lay::color_t, QIcon> m_connection_icon_per_color;
+  int m_object_column;
+  int m_status_column;
+  int m_first_column;
+  int m_second_column;
 };
 
 } // namespace lay
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.cc
index 4f71ae83f..6d8d3a9ec 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistBrowserPage.cc
@@ -145,23 +145,13 @@ NetlistBrowserPage::NetlistBrowserPage (QWidget * /*parent*/)
 
   lay::HTMLItemDelegate *delegate;
 
-  delegate = new lay::HTMLItemDelegate (this);
-  delegate->set_text_margin (2);
-  delegate->set_anchors_clickable (true);
-  connect (delegate, SIGNAL (anchor_clicked (const QString &)), this, SLOT (anchor_clicked (const QString &)));
-  directory_tree->setItemDelegateForColumn (2, delegate);
-
-  delegate = new lay::HTMLItemDelegate (this);
-  delegate->set_text_margin (2);
-  delegate->set_anchors_clickable (true);
-  connect (delegate, SIGNAL (anchor_clicked (const QString &)), this, SLOT (anchor_clicked (const QString &)));
-  directory_tree->setItemDelegateForColumn (1, delegate);
-
-  delegate = new lay::HTMLItemDelegate (this);
-  delegate->set_text_margin (2);
-  delegate->set_anchors_clickable (true);
-  connect (delegate, SIGNAL (anchor_clicked (const QString &)), this, SLOT (anchor_clicked (const QString &)));
-  directory_tree->setItemDelegateForColumn (0, delegate);
+  for (int i = 0; i < 4; ++i) {
+    delegate = new lay::HTMLItemDelegate (this);
+    delegate->set_text_margin (2);
+    delegate->set_anchors_clickable (true);
+    connect (delegate, SIGNAL (anchor_clicked (const QString &)), this, SLOT (anchor_clicked (const QString &)));
+    directory_tree->setItemDelegateForColumn (i, delegate);
+  }
 
   QMenu *find_edit_menu = new QMenu (find_text);
   find_edit_menu->addAction (actionUseRegularExpressions);
@@ -664,13 +654,18 @@ NetlistBrowserPage::set_db (db::LayoutToNetlist *l2ndb)
 
   directory_tree->header ()->show ();
   directory_tree->header ()->setStretchLastSection (true);
+  directory_tree->header ()->setMinimumSectionSize (25);
+
   if (columns < new_columns) {
     //  makes sure new columns are properly size-adjusted
     for (int i = std::max (0, columns - 1); i < new_columns; ++i) {
-      directory_tree->header ()->resizeSection (i, directory_tree->header ()->defaultSectionSize ());
+      directory_tree->header ()->resizeSection (i, i == 1 ? directory_tree->header ()->minimumSectionSize () : directory_tree->header ()->defaultSectionSize ());
     }
   }
 
+  //  hide the status column if not needed
+  directory_tree->header ()->setSectionHidden (1, new_model->status_column () < 0);
+
   find_text->setText (QString ());
 }
 
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistCrossReferenceModel.cc b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistCrossReferenceModel.cc
index a72b5f79b..dc2cb742c 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistCrossReferenceModel.cc
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistCrossReferenceModel.cc
@@ -32,18 +32,6 @@ NetlistCrossReferenceModel::NetlistCrossReferenceModel (const db::NetlistCrossRe
   //  .. nothing yet ..
 }
 
-std::string
-NetlistCrossReferenceModel::column_title (int section) const
-{
-  if (section == 0) {
-    return tl::to_string (tr ("Objects"));
-  } else if (section == 1) {
-    return tl::to_string (tr ("Layout"));
-  } else if (section == 2) {
-    return tl::to_string (tr ("Reference"));
-  }
-}
-
 size_t NetlistCrossReferenceModel::circuit_count () const
 {
   return mp_cross_ref->circuit_count ();
diff --git a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistCrossReferenceModel.h b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistCrossReferenceModel.h
index f5bf22e60..f474afe8f 100644
--- a/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistCrossReferenceModel.h
+++ b/src/laybasic/laybasic/layNetlistCrossReferenceModel.h
@@ -43,8 +43,6 @@ public:
 
   virtual bool is_single () const { return false; }
 
-  virtual std::string column_title (int section) const;
-
   virtual size_t circuit_count () const;
   virtual size_t net_count (const circuit_pair &circuits) const;
   virtual size_t net_terminal_count (const net_pair &nets) const;