Reports - Load Settings

I'm getting some odd results when saving/loading reports.  Please confirm that I'm doing this properly:

Step 1.  Format the report.  I'm adding columns to the report control, with appropriate formatting, etc.

Step 2.  Getting the data for the report.

Step 3.  Adding the data to the report (AddItem, etc.).

Step 4.  Checking to see if the report has been saved to a file.  If true, LoadSettings method called to load layout.

Main question = Do I skip Step 1 (and run Step 4 in it's place) if I already know that the report's layout was previously saved?  In other words, does the LoadSettings method replace, or merely complement, the process of formatting the report? 

OK.  To summarize, it sounds like the SaveSettings method saves certain formatting information regarding the columns in a report, but does not save any specific information regarding which columns are included in the report.

First, add columns (Column objects) to report control. Second, add data to the report (Record and Item objects). Finally, call the LoadSettings method to retrieve any specific formatting the user may have set for the report.

Now I need to figure out why LoadSettings does not seem to be working in my case.  I will save the settings for a report, but when I go to open the report again, and use LoadSettings, one or more columns are switched from NOT visible at SaveSettings time, to visible at LoadSettings time.  I use the same columns (Step 1) every time.