Smart spaces in Gedit

[tzjin anthony ks]

Hi:

There's a plugin for Gedit called Smart spaces. The description says "Forget you're not using tabulations." Maybe it's just me, but I'm unable to figure out how it works, and can't find any useful information on the internet.

Has anyone else used this plugin?

Thanks.

Tzjin.

[juancarlospaco]

thats the plug-in replaces TAB by N Spaces ?

i dont remember, i use ed

[.:PiXi²:.]

You only have to use this plugin if you work together with older programmers on the same code. Asking why (http://www.fluther.com/5795/why-would-a-programmer-use-spaces-instead-of-tabs-for-indentation/)?

[tzjin anthony ks]

juan - no, that is a built in feature in gedit, without any need for plugins.

pixi - would you happen to know how to make use of it in gedit?

[.:PiXi²:.]

Take a look at the preferences (Edit -> Preferences). On the second tab select something like "replace tabs by spaces". If you do use that option, I suggest you also use the plugin. On the last tab, enable the plugin about smart spaces.
The main difference is that if the plugin is enabled, when deleting a whitespace that is part of a string of more whitespaces that replaced a tab, the whole string will be deleted. When you have the plugin disabled and the option to replace tabs by spaces enabled, you will delete just character by character. Simple, isn't it?