Bug 363765

Summary:	Allow “Tab key inserts tab character” as tab key action
Product:	[Applications] kate	Reporter:	fantasai <fantasai.bugs>
Component:	indentation	Assignee:	KWrite Developers <kwrite-bugs-null>
Status:	RESOLVED FIXED
Severity:	minor	CC:	andrew.crouthamel, kare.sars
Priority:	NOR
Version First Reported In:	unspecified
Target Milestone:	---
Platform:	Other
OS:	Linux
Latest Commit:		Version Fixed In:
Sentry Crash Report:

Description fantasai 2016-06-01 00:39:07 UTC

It's currently not possible to insert a tab character when indentation is using spaces, except by pasting one copied from another document. This is pretty confusing to a lot of users (as evidenced by the number of bugs reported by people having trouble inserting tab characters). It would be nice if Kate could have the option to merely insert a tab character whenever the tab key is pressed instead of doing any of the various fancy options it currently has.



Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Choose indentation by spaces in Settings > Configure Kate... > Editing > Indentation > Indent using...
2. Press tab key in document

Actual Results:  
Notice it inserts spaces. Great for people who want to indent with Tab instead of Ctrl+I, but sad for people who want to insert tab characters!

Expected Results:  
Possible to configure Tab key to insert actual Tab character.

Reporting against version 15.12.3.

Comment 1 Kåre Särs 2016-06-01 05:24:49 UTC

I had the exact same problem some years ago. I have a workaround for that: Set the shortcut for the "Insert Tab" action to Tab (there is no default set)

I don't totally agree with the available options for indentation and tab, but the workaround fixes it for me ;)

Comment 2 fantasai 2016-06-01 18:30:57 UTC

That's an interesting workaround, but it is not very discoverable, and therefore not solving the usability problem. This should just be one of the options in the same panel that sets all the other options for what a Tab key does.

Comment 3 Andrew Crouthamel 2018-09-08 00:23:41 UTC

Hi there from the Bugsquad!

This appears to have been fixed at some point between the last comment and the latest version. I tested this with Kate 18.08 and there is now a "Tabulators" option in the same area where you can select "Spaces".

Selecting "Tabulators" and using the Tab key successfully entered tab characters, designated with a tiny >> icon.

Please let us know if you continue to have this issue. Thank you!