GNU bug report logs - #48058
tab-width's docstring

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From: Gustavo Barros <gusbrs.2016 <at> gmail.com>
To: Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org>
Cc: 48058 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
Subject: bug#48058: tab-width's docstring
Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2021 12:14:50 -0300

On Tue, 27 Apr 2021 at 12:02, Eli Zaretskii <eliz <at> gnu.org> wrote:

>> From: Gustavo Barros <gusbrs.2016 <at> gmail.com>
>> Cc: 48058 <at> debbugs.gnu.org
>> Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2021 11:40:18 -0300
>> 
>> Let's say `emacs-lisp-mode', and let's say I've `indent-tabs-mode' 
>> set 
>> to nil.  Calling `tab-to-tab-stop' will actually insert 8 spaces in 
>> my 
>> buffer, as per the default `tab-width'.  If `tab-always-indent' is 
>> nil, 
>> this also extends to `indent-for-tab-command'.  There is no "TAB 
>> character" involved, and also no issue about what is its "display 
>> width".  As far as I understand it, what `tab-width' is determining 
>> is 
>> precisely the "indentation step".  Or am I getting this wrong?
>
> This is major mode dependent.  Try the same in C mode, for example,
> and you will see the difference.  The function that indents the line
> is specific to the major mode.  If you want to understand why you see
> what you see in emacs-lisp-mode, look at lisp-indent-line.
>
> But even in emacs-lisp-mode, what did you expect to happen instead?
> (indent-tabs-mode, btw, just uses spaces instead of TABs, but it still
> inserts the amount of spaces equivalent to a TAB where otherwise a TAB
> would have been inserted.)

I didn't expect anything different to happen.  It is just that 
`tab-width' is determining more than just the "display width of the TAB 
character": if you (or the major-mode for you) are indenting with spaces 
the content of the buffer is different according to `tab-width', it not 
just a matter of "display".

But I see your point, and perhaps the docstring is clearer to someone 
more seasoned than myself, and avoids other pitfalls along the way which 
I do not even see.  Hopefully, it will feel just as clear to me someday. 
;-)

Thanks for answering, and feel free to close.

Best regards,
Gustavo.

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