Since tabs (at least at the moment) are a reality in Webware, perhaps
we can collect some practical tips for coping with them.  It probably
makes sense to collect these by editor.

-- JasonHildebrand_ - 27 Sep 2002

--------------------------------------

?? why can't we use spaces? I use spaces for my Python coding using
Vim, and I use WebKit. I don't seem to have any
trouble.. -JamesBecker_

--------------------------------------

You can use spaces in your own Webware-based application -- no problem.  
But if you need to modify Webware itself, you'll run into trouble if you 
mix tabs and spaces.

-- JasonHildebrand_ - 15 Apr 2004

Vim
---

To teach Vim to switch to "noexpandtabs" mode when editing a file in
any subdirectory of "Webware", add these lines to your ~/.vimrc

::

    autocmd BufEnter */Webware/* set noexpandtab
    autocmd BufLeave */Webware/* set expandtab


sed
---

Converting python files from tabs to spaces is a snap.

::

    > cd ~/dev/Webware
    > for file in `find . -name "*.py"`
    do
        sed -e "s/^V<tab>/    /g" $file > $file.new     # hit ctrl-v and the tab key after the first slash
        mv $file.new $file
    done


--VictorNg_ April 15, 2004


(un)expand
----------

The GNU Coreutils contains the utilties `expand` and `unexpand` convert tabs to spaces and vice-versa. A tab is considered to align at specific columns, by default every eight columns or four columns with option `-t4`, so the specific number of spaces that correspond to a tab depends on where those spaces or tab occur. Unless you specify the `-a` option, unexpand will only entab the initial whitespace (which goes along with the Webware styleguides).

--ChrisZwerschke_ July 26, 2005


DrPython
--------

The Editor/Mini-IDE "DrPython" supports converting from tabs to spaces and vice versa via the menu entries "Edit - Whitespace - Set indentation to tabs..." and  "Edit - Whitespace - Set indentation to spaces..."

--ChrisZwerschke_ July 26, 2005