TK Text widget Tab Bug.
Intro
The text widget under Tk has what some people call an unorthodox
model for tabbing. It does in fact have an error in its tab handling.
This can be shown by comparing the operation of the text widget using
the default tabs and then using defined tabs based on the equivalent 8
characters.
The Fix
Apply this Tab Fix patch to the tk 8.3 core for file
./generic/tkTextDisp.c and tabs will perform as most people expect. (Change
to the source directory for tk and then the subdirectory generic
and use the command patch < TabFix.dif, check there are no errors and
then recompile as per normal.)
FootNote
I have given up attempting to communicate the problem to scriptics. I cannot
believe that the existing tab handling was designed to operate as it does.
Anyone who can explain to me why tabbing should operate as scriptics have
dictated please contact me and explain what is to be gained by swimming
against the tide.
Mail