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

jaredlpalmermc · November 2020

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 · November 2020

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 · February 2021

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 · February 2021

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 · February 2021

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.

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

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