SET TABS

 Sets tab stops for the current buffer (AT or EVERY) or the tab mode
 (INSERT, MOVEMENT, SPACES, VISIBLE, or INVISIBLE) for the editor.

 Examples:

    Command                 Purpose or effects
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
    SET TABS AT 9 18 36     Sets tab stops at columns 9, 18, and 36.
                            Separate the values by spaces; they must be in
                            ascending order.

    SET TABS EVERY 5        Sets tab stops every fifth column (that is, 5,
                            10, 15, 20, and so on).  The default tab stops
                            are every 8 columns.

 o  Setting tab stops changes existing tabs for the current buffer.  Tab
    stops are independent of the hardware settings of your terminal.  To
    find out the current tab stops, use SHOW.

 o  At startup, SET TABS AT or EVERY in an initialization file affects both
    the main buffer and a system buffer named $DEFAULTS$.  Buffers created
    during the session will have the same tab stops as $DEFAULTS$.  See
    help on DEFAULTS.

 o  To set the tab mode, use SET TABS and specify one of the following:

    INSERT       Using TAB inserts a tab character, moving the cursor and
                 any existing text to the right.  This is the default
                 setting.

    MOVEMENT     Using TAB moves the cursor to the next tab stop, but does
                 NOT move existing text or insert a tab character.  This is
                 useful for moving the cursor several spaces at a time or
                 across tab-aligned columns or lists.

    SPACES       Using TAB inserts spaces instead of a tab character,
                 moving the cursor and any existing text to the next tab
                 stop.  (You can erase the spaces to adjust the placement
                 of text.) This is useful when you are going to print or
                 display the text on devices with different tab stops.

    VISIBLE      Makes tab characters appear as a small HT (horizontal tab).

    INVISIBLE    Makes tab characters appear as blank space.  This is the
                 default setting.

 o  Tab mode is a global setting, affecting all buffers.  INSERT, MOVEMENT,
    and SPACES do not affect existing tabs entered in a different mode.

 o  Remember that on printers or terminals with different tab stops from
    those you specified, tabs will not appear the same as during editing
    unless you have set the tab mode to spaces.

 Related topics:

    DEFAULTS    SHOW    TAB