-- initialize surface with a single column
  command.recently_modified()

  for _,column_name in ipairs(settings.columns) do
    if column_name == 'recently modified' then
      command.recently_modified()
    elseif file_exists(Directory..column_name) then
      command.open_file(column_name)
    end
  end

  -- initialize surface with a single column
  command.recently_modified()

  local column_names = {}
  for _,column in ipairs(Surface) do
    table.insert(column_names, column.name)
  end

    columns=column_names,