diff --git a/config/visidataplugins/hidecol.py b/config/visidataplugins/hidecol.py
index 83d9fd0..88a3712 100644
--- a/config/visidataplugins/hidecol.py
+++ b/config/visidataplugins/hidecol.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 __version__ = "0.1.0"
-__author__ = "Your Name <your.email@example.com>"
+__author__ = "Tabledevil <tabledevil@gmail.com>"
 
 from visidata import Sheet, BaseSheet, vd
 
@@ -10,26 +10,30 @@ def hide_empty_and_superfluous_cols(sheet):
     Given a sheet, hides columns that are empty or superfluous (contain the same
     value in every row).
     """
-    # Create a dictionary to keep track of which columns to hide
-    cols_to_hide = {}
-
+    # Count how many columns were hidden
+    counter = 0
     # Check each column for being empty or superfluous
     for col in sheet.visibleCols:
-        # Check if the column is empty (all cells are empty or None)
-        if all([col.getValue(row) in (None, "") for row in sheet.rows]):
-            cols_to_hide[col] = True
-            continue
+        # If the column is not hidden
+        if col.width and col.width > 0:
+            # Check if the column is empty (all cells are empty or None)
+            if all([col.getValue(row) in (None, "", "null") for row in sheet.rows]):
+                # Hide the column
+                col.width = 0
+                counter += 1
+                # Skip the next check for same values since all cells are empty or None
+                continue
 
-        # Check if the column is superfluous (contains the same value in every row)
-        values = set([col.getValue(row) for row in sheet.rows if col.getValue(row) not in (None, "", "null")])
-        if len(values) == 1:
-            cols_to_hide[col] = True
+            # Check if the column is superfluous (contains the same value in every row)
+            # collect all values in the column as strings
+            values = set([f'{col.getValue(row)}' for row in sheet.rows if col.getValue(row) not in (None, "", "null")])
+            # If there is only one value in the column
+            if len(values) == 1:
+                # Hide the column
+                col.width = 0
+                counter += 1
 
-    # Hide the columns that were flagged
-    if cols_to_hide:
-        for col in cols_to_hide:
-            col.width=0
-        vd.status(f"Hid {len(cols_to_hide)} empty/superfluous columns.")
+        vd.status(f"Hid {counter} empty/superfluous columns.")
     else:
         vd.status("No empty/superfluous columns to hide.")