Tab / Space Configuration Does Not Work in IDLE

[ahuibers]

BPO	783887
Nosy	@rhettinger, @kbkaiser

^{Note: these values reflect the state of the issue at the time it was migrated and might not reflect the current state.}

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GitHub fields:

assignee = 'https://github.com/kbkaiser'
closed_at = <Date 2005-01-31.03:46:43.000>
created_at = <Date 2003-08-06.03:00:15.000>
labels = ['expert-IDLE']
title = 'Tab / Space Configuration Does Not Work in IDLE'
updated_at = <Date 2005-01-31.03:46:43.000>
user = 'https://bugs.python.org/ahuibers'

bugs.python.org fields:

activity = <Date 2005-01-31.03:46:43.000>
actor = 'kbk'
assignee = 'kbk'
closed = True
closed_date = None
closer = None
components = ['IDLE']
creation = <Date 2003-08-06.03:00:15.000>
creator = 'ahuibers'
dependencies = []
files = []
hgrepos = []
issue_num = 783887
keywords = []
message_count = 6.0
messages = ['17630', '17631', '17632', '17633', '17634', '17635']
nosy_count = 4.0
nosy_names = ['rhettinger', 'kbk', 'ahuibers', 'nanjundi']
pr_nums = []
priority = 'low'
resolution = 'fixed'
stage = None
status = 'closed'
superseder = None
type = None
url = 'https://bugs.python.org/issue783887'
versions = ['Python 2.5']

[ahuibers]

On Python 2.3/IDLE 1.0, when I go from the editor to:

Options->Configure Idle->Font/Tabs

And set it to "Tab key inserts tabs" what actually
happens is that the tab key inserts spaces (4 spaces).

[rhettinger]

Logged In: YES
user_id=80475

I cannot reproduce the problem.

This may be a silly question, but did you click Apply after
changing the setting?

[ahuibers]

Logged In: YES
user_id=838612

Mmm.. I re-installed the Windows Python-2.3 installer EXE on
a fresh PC and I have the problem, even when I hit "Apply"
and "OK".
It is not a big deal of course, but would be nice if it worked..

[kbkaiser]

Logged In: YES
user_id=149084

I can reproduce this on XP and Linux.

Of course, everyone should use 4 spaces :)

[nanjundi]

Logged In: YES
user_id=1199110

I got the error. I am using Python 2.3.4.
Hitting TAB in the editor advances the cursor by "4" spaces
irrespective of the "indent width" in Configure idle...->
Fonts/Tab -> choose indentation size:

I did a quick and dirty fix.
I had to modify the Line# 915 in file <py install
path>Python23/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py

Requires restart of IDLE for the change to take effect.

[Before]
indentwidth = 3
[After]
indentwidth =
idleConf.GetOption('main','Indent','num-spaces',
default=4,type='int')

[kbkaiser]

Logged In: YES
user_id=149084

Removed Tab indentation selection from the Options
dialog. Not appropriate for IDLE. Tab indentation default
may still be configured 'manually' by modifying
config-main.def but that's for experts. You can switch on
tabs for individual Edit windows using the Format menu.
(Note: the Tab indent option was never finished and
never operable)

Changing the 'screen' indent width in the Options menu
will now be effective if you aren't using tabs (it's always
8 if you are using tabs).

Thanks for the patch and the reminder.