Case 2 seems an issue : please create a bug about this issue
Case 1 is more hard to fix

Else : allow updating ranking is a feature, i dislike to remove a feature … if we can fix.

PS point of view is https://bugs.limesurvey.org/view.php?id=9828

I create the case 2 here: https://bugs.limesurvey.org/view.php?id=14899
For case 1, will it be fixed in a near future ?

About case 1 : the issue is not fixed or not : it's «is this a bug»

Sample : you want user ranking 3 country in the 178 country,

1. you set max columns to 3 before activate survey
2. you deactivate survey
3. You want this value stay same

When we can choose to update or not this value ?

Yes indeed.
In that case, user should create a new question. We can close this issue since you fixed case 2.

Thanks

No, no need to create new question

6. Deactivate and activate the survey

was replaced

6. Deactivate
7. Update question setting
8. activate the survey

After reading your answer, maybe I was not clear about words for the Case 1.
Because my Limesurvey is in french here the analysis.

A)
In english: "Maximum answers"
French: "Nombre de réponses maximum"

In that case, what you said about Case 1 is good.

and B)

English: "Maximum columns for answers"

That's the maximum number of column for answers, this value should be reinitialized with a desactivate/activate of the survey.
This value is available in the question parameters but protected against editing if filled by Limesurvey.

Do you better understand the problem ?

I totally understand Point 1.

And my answer still the same : since we can not know if max_subquestions is set manually or not : we can't reset it.

See discussion : https://bugs.limesurvey.org/view.php?id=9828

Question of type R shouldn't be updatable. It can lead to inconsistency.

Then you remove a feature where user can not add new answers after activation …

it stills locked at 4 columns whereas it should be 7.

Why it should be ? Current solution allow to rank 3 item inside 150 without 150 column : and it's really great for some survey.

For other survey : just remind to reset the settings before activate.

You only propose to remove existing feature to resolve an issue that can be easily fixed with some rigor and verification. The settings are show in question summary, then user see it.

Thanks for your detailed explanation.

PS : i think a feature can be

1. Leave max_subquestions as empty if not set when activated
2. Add max_subquestions_auto disable for all user
3. set/unset max_subquestions_auto when activate/deactivate

But : still a new feature …