Using Whitespaces for Tabs

Permanently deleted user

Created December 13, 2008 12:35

I'm a strong believer in whitespaces instead of tab characters, so I want to avoid these.

My previous Java IDE was able to understand that 4 space characters should roughly represent a tab character. This involves NOT being able to jump directly into the middle of such 4 spaces, and that deleting the start of a 4-space-block deletes the whole 4 space characters. Moving with the arrow keys will thus jump between the 4 spaces blocks.

Is it possible to achieve this behavior in IntelliJ IDEA? So far I've been extremely happy with this IDE.

/lfb

2 comments

Dmitry Jemerov

Created December 16, 2008 15:29

Hello John,

No, IntelliJ IDEA does not behave like this. You can file JIRA issues requesting
this functionality at http://www.jetbrains.net/jira

I'm a strong believer in whitespaces instead of tab characters, so I
want to avoid these.

My previous Java IDE was able to understand that 4 space characters
should roughly represent a tab character. This involves NOT being able
to jump directly into the middle of such 4 spaces, and that deleting
the start of a 4-space-block deletes the whole 4 space characters.
Moving with the arrow key

s will thus jump between the 4 spaces blocks.

Is it possible to achieve this behavior in IntelliJ IDEA? So far I've
been extremely happy with this IDE.

--
Dmitry Jemerov
Development Lead
JetBrains, Inc.
http://www.jetbrains.com/
"Develop with Pleasure!"

Permanently deleted user

Created December 16, 2008 15:50

You want all the characteristics of tabs but with n times as many bytes stored for each such pseudo-tab?

And don't forget to ask that when you use CTRL-/ that the // should not be inserted at the front of the line but rather replace the first two space of your non-tab tab. (And conversely when line comments are being removed).

Gack!

RRS

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