diff --git a/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Config/SectionConfig.cs b/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Config/SectionConfig.cs
index ba610e74..eb19e262 100644
--- a/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Config/SectionConfig.cs
+++ b/PROMS/VEPROMS.CSLA.Library/Config/SectionConfig.cs
@@ -435,16 +435,21 @@ namespace VEPROMS.CSLA.Library
 				// If there is no parent value, then use the volian default
 				if (s == string.Empty)
 				{
+					int rval = 0; 
 					if (MyFormat != null)
 					{
-						int rval = (int)MyFormat.MyStepSectionLayoutData.PMode;
-						return (SectionColumnMode)rval;//SectionColumnMode.Two; //SectionColumnMode.Default;// default to volian default
+						rval = (int)MyFormat.MyStepSectionLayoutData.PMode;
+						//int rval = (int)MyFormat.MyStepSectionLayoutData.PMode;
+						//return (SectionColumnMode)rval;//SectionColumnMode.Two; //SectionColumnMode.Default;// default to volian default
 					}
 					else
 					{
-						int rval = (int)MyDefaultFormat.MyStepSectionLayoutData.PMode;
-						return (SectionColumnMode)rval;
+						//int rval = (int)MyDefaultFormat.MyStepSectionLayoutData.PMode;
+						rval = (int)MyDefaultFormat.MyStepSectionLayoutData.PMode;
+						//return (SectionColumnMode)rval;
 					}
+					if (rval == 0) rval = 2;
+					return (SectionColumnMode)rval;
 				}
 				else
 					return (SectionColumnMode)int.Parse(s);
@@ -472,7 +477,8 @@ namespace VEPROMS.CSLA.Library
 					}
 					else
 						rval =(int)MyFormat.MyStepSectionLayoutData.PMode;
-					parval = ((SectionColumnMode)rval).ToString();
+					parval = ((rval > 0)?((SectionColumnMode)rval).ToString() : "2"); // if PMode is zero default to 2 column mode
+					//parval = ((SectionColumnMode)rval).ToString();
 					//parval = ((int)(SectionColumnMode.Default)).ToString();
 				}