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Re: Are TABs a topic? ( was Re: “A dispute over the TAB key highlights a mismatch [...])

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Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> writes:

> On 2026-10-13 00:09, steve g wrote:
>> [...]  I want my backtab to work like the drawing on the key
>> Tab
>> <-----
>> ----->
>> Why doesn't anyone use the backtab?  [...]


> The point with the editor I use is, frankly, that I don't know what
> a back-tab would be supposed to do; I indent with Tab and clear TABs
> backwards with Backspace. For all navigation I use in Vi and Vim the
> "semantic positioning" on the various entities and units in a text.
> (So I don't see how the back-tab would help here.)

I have it set to shift tab.

The tab button should switch you to the next field/tab stop. The backtab
is supposed to switch you to a prior tab stop. I was led to believe when
using a terminal and Programming cobol ....

I had a math teacher that would lose his gord it you put a period in an
equation, "NO FORTRAN, NO FORTRAN!", he would say. His thesis hung in
the balance because in fortran you need to end the program with a
period. Boy oh boy he started to explain that stupidity ends with a
period by grabbing a new piece of chalk ... :)

> It might make more sense with GUI oriented editors? - But also in the
> more primitive GUI-editors and word-processors I typically move by at
> least the few semantic entities supported; e.g. Ctrl-RightArrow (to
> move by words).

Not really; most editors insert spaces until you reach next tab stop.


> Oh, if that is the criterion then I can enter F1..F4 and F9..F12, but
> won't enter F5..F8 (which are gray). ;-)

That was the idea ... well we are far past that point. Now they have
buttons for volume, zoom; none of witch are greay keys; they need the
function (fn) button. another

> That might also explain why some text sources, e.g. some HTML pages,
> contain of just a single long line; the Enter key is also gray. :-)

you are correct. It is like HTML, TeX, emacs, etc. With html you should
use <p> </p>. breaking lines is a convenience for the user using the
display.


> Janis

hello!

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Thread

Are TABs a topic? ( was Re: “A dispute over the TAB key highlights a mismatch [...]) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-06-03 10:28 +0200
  Re: Are TABs a topic? ( was Re: “A dispute over the TAB key highlights a mismatch [...]) Paul <nospam@needed.invalid> - 2026-06-03 05:20 -0400
    Re: Are TABs a topic? ( was Re: “A dispute over the TAB key highlights a mismatch [...]) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-06-03 14:50 +0200
    Re: Are TABs a topic? ( was Re: “A dispute over the TAB key highlights a mismatch [...]) Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-06-04 00:07 +0000
  Re: Are TABs a topic? ( was Re: “A dispute over the TAB key highlights a mismatch [...]) steve g <Sgonedes1977@gmail.com> - 2026-10-12 18:09 -0400
    Re: Are TABs a topic? ( was Re: “A dispute over the TAB key highlights a mismatch [...]) Janis Papanagnou <janis_papanagnou+ng@hotmail.com> - 2026-10-13 04:29 +0200
      Re: Are TABs a topic? ( was Re: “A dispute over the TAB key highlights a mismatch [...]) steve g <Sgonedes1977@gmail.com> - 2026-10-19 12:46 -0400
        Re: Are TABs a topic? ( was Re: “A dispute over the TAB key highlights a mismatch [...]) Lawrence D’Oliveiro <ldo@nz.invalid> - 2026-10-20 01:00 +0000
          Re: Are TABs a topic? ( was Re: “A dispute over the TAB key highlights a mismatch [...]) steve g <Sgonedes1977@gmail.com> - 2026-10-20 12:30 -0400

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