Convert tabs to spaces in Notepad++

1168
votes

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.

15
notepad++whitespaceindentation
Tab indent = 1x character, Space indent = more than 3x characters. – Yousha Aleayoub
SciTE does this quite easily. Too bad it doesn't extend as well as Notepad++. – bvj
I appear to have entered the Twilight Zone. My Notepad++ is always triple-spacing each tab, and nothing I've updated in the IDE has changed the behavior. I've been using it for years and never ran into this problem before o_o. Even down-grading didn't remove the problem. So yep. I'm calling it. Twilight Zone feature. – kayleeFrye_onDeck
@YoushaAleayoub 1 space = 1 space, 1 tab = different for everyone. – csabinho
@csabinho that's the point. So everyone can customize it and set it to their own size. #Freedom :) – Yousha Aleayoub

15 Answers

1153
votes

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.

Screenshot of Replace by space

588
votes

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.

229
votes

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

156
votes

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

Replace

85
votes

Follow this procedure to convert spaces to tabs or vice-versa:

Space - Tab

26
votes

I just posted a Notepad++ plugin to convert tabs to spaces. Yes, it converts tabs in the middle of a line. Yes, it takes into account other characters within the tabbed field. Check it out.

11
votes

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.
8
votes

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.

Screenshot of the Preferences dialog

8
votes

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:

  1. Menu Settings -> Preferences
  2. Choose Tab Settings
  3. Choose your language type (e.g. Python)
  4. Select checkbox 'Use default value'
  5. Select checkbox 'Replace by space'

Enter image description here

3
votes

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.

2
votes

CLR Tabs to Spaces plugin should be a good option. I have used it and it worked.

2
votes

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:

Replace *Tab* by *Space* in <code>Notepad++</code>

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

2
votes

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.

2
votes

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

0
votes

The following way is the best way in my opinion:

Download:

  1. Notepad++
  2. The plugin http://sourceforge.net/projects/tabstospacesnpp/?source=typ
  3. Read the instructions and it will convert tabs to spaces.