Convert tabs to spaces in Notepad++
Notepad++WhitespaceIndentationNotepad++ Problem Overview
How do I convert tabs to spaces in Notepad++?
I found a webpage that suggests it's possible, but I couldn't find any information about how to do it.
I would like to be able to do that, because some web forms don't respect code with tabs in them.
Notepad++ Solutions
Solution 1 - Notepad++
To convert existing tabs to spaces, press Edit->Blank Operations->TAB to Space
.
If in the future you want to enter spaces instead of tab when you press tab key:
- Go to
Settings->Preferences...->Language
(since version 7.1) orSettings->Preferences...->Tab Settings
(previous versions) - Check
Replace by space
- (Optional) You can set the number of spaces to use in place of a Tab by changing the
Tab size
field.
Solution 2 - Notepad++
Obsolete: This answer is correct only for an older version of Notepad++. Converting between tabs/spaces is now built into Notepad++ and the TextFX plugin is no longer available in the Plugin Manager dialog.
- First set the "replace by spaces" setting in
Preferences -> Language Menu/Tab Settings
. - Next, open the document you wish to replace tabs with.
- Highlight all the text (CTRL+A).
- Then select
TextFX -> TextFX Edit -> Leading spaces to tabs or tabs to spaces
.
Note: Make sure TextFX Characters plugin is installed (Plugins -> Plugin manager -> Show plugin manager
, Installed
tab). Otherwise, there will be no TextFX menu.
Solution 3 - Notepad++
Settings ->
Preference ->
Edit Components (tab) ->
Tab Setting (group) ->
Replace by space
In version 5.6.8 (and above):
Settings ->
Preferences... ->
Language Menu/Tab Settings ->
Tab Settings (group) ->
Replace by space
Solution 4 - Notepad++
You need to replace \t
- make sure you use extended mode!
Solution 5 - Notepad++
Follow this procedure to convert spaces to tabs or vice-versa:
Solution 6 - Notepad++
The easy way:
- Highlight a single tab area
- Copy
- Bring up find/replace
- Paste into the find field
- Click into the replace field and hit the space bar
- Then replace all.
Solution 7 - Notepad++
I did not read all of the answers, but I did not find the answer I was looking for.
I use Python and don't want to do find/replace or 'blank operations' each time I want to compile code...
So the best solution for me is that it happens on the fly!
Here is the simple solution I found:
Go to:
- Menu Settings -> Preferences
- Choose Tab Settings
- Choose your language type (e.g. Python)
- Select checkbox 'Use default value'
- Select checkbox 'Replace by space'
Solution 8 - Notepad++
In version 5.8.7:
Menu Settings -> Preferences... -> Language Menu/Tab Settings -> Tab Settings (you may select the very language to replace tabs to spaces. It's cool!) -> Uncheck Use default value and check Replace by space.
Solution 9 - Notepad++
There is no 'Edit Components' tab in the preferences setup. You need to go 'Language Menu/Tab Settings', there is an option in there to control tab behavior. You can even set it to work differently depending on the language of the file.
Solution 10 - Notepad++
If you happen to work in a Unix environment, the expand command is what you need:
Solution 11 - Notepad++
I follow this simple way:
- Double click (Highlight) single tab (ie: \t).
- Press
ctrl + F
(Find/repace
). - You may not see \t or single tab area on
Find What:
field. But don't worry. - Enter a
space
inReplace With:
field. - Click
Replce All
.
Done! :)
See:
Note: This method applies to reverse (Replace a space by a tab) case too.
Solution 12 - Notepad++
Settings > Preferences > Tab Settings Check the "replace by space". Notice above it there is Tab size: 4 Click on the four and a window will open with the option to change the value to another integer.
Put in your desired integer and press the ENTER key.
There you have it <3.