Tabs are converted to spaces (even though configured not to)

jaredlpalmermc

I'm running Linqpad v5.43 and I do a simple Console.WriteLine("\t") and my output is converted to 2 spaces? My Linqpad is converted to NOT convert tabs to spaces.

JoeAlbahari

The option in LINQPad that controls whether tabs are converted to spaces applies only to the editor.

With the results panel, output is rendered as HTML which doesn't normally render tabs except as ordinary spaces.

michael93845

Would it be possible to get an option to change it from the current two spaces? Maybe output (configured value - 1) nbsp's and a regular space instead of one nbsp and a space like it's doing now. I cannot read two space indenting.

JoeAlbahari

Have you tried PanelManager.DisplaySyntaxColoredText? This displays text using the same logic as a code editor, which ensures that tabs are processed correctly, and also optionally syntax-highlights it:

PanelManager.DisplaySyntaxColoredText ("*\t**\t***\t****", SyntaxLanguageStyle.None);

This method displays the output in a separate tab. If you want it in the main results tab, your easiest option is to write an extension method that utilizes HTML's pre tag:

void Main()
{
    "*\t**\t***\t****".Pre().Dump();    
    "*\t**\t***\t****".Pre().Dump("heading");
    new {
        Plain = "test",
        Formatted1 = "*\t*".Pre(),
        Formatted2 = "line 1\n\tline 2".Pre()
    }.Dump();
}

public static class Extensions
{
    public static LINQPad.Controls.Control Pre (this string data)
    {
        return new LINQPad.Controls.Control ("pre", data);
    }
}

If you define the extension method in the "My Extensions" query, you'll be able to call it from any query.

michael93845

Thank you, I've added that.

It would still be nice, though, to just be able to set a default behavior and not be something extra I have to call every time. If at all possible.