Convert tabs to spaces in Notepad++

Question

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.

Answer 1

If you happen to work in a Unix environment, the expand command is what you need:

Answer 2

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

Answer 3

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 in Replace With: field.
• Click Replce All .

Done! :)

See:

Note: This method applies to reverse (Replace a space by a tab) case too.

Answer 4

You need to replace \t - make sure you use extended mode!

Answer 5

The easy way:

1. Highlight a single tab area
2. Copy
3. Bring up find/replace
4. Paste into the find field
5. Click into the replace field and hit the space bar
6. Then replace all.

Answer 6

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:

1. Go to Settings->Preferences...->Language (since version 7.1) or Settings->Preferences...->Tab Settings (previous versions)
2. Check Replace by space
3. (Optional) You can set the number of spaces to use in place of a Tab by changing the Tab size field.