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(elisp)Indent Tabs

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Adjustable "Tab Stops"
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   This section explains the mechanism for user-specified "tab stops"
and the mechanisms that use and set them.  The name "tab stops" is used
because the feature is similar to that of the tab stops on a
typewriter.  The feature works by inserting an appropriate number of
spaces and tab characters to reach the next tab stop column; it does not
affect the display of tab characters in the buffer (Note: Usual
Display).  Note that the <TAB> character as input uses this tab stop
feature only in a few major modes, such as Text mode.

 - Command: tab-to-tab-stop
     This command inserts spaces or tabs before point, up to the next
     tab stop column defined by `tab-stop-list'.  It searches the list
     for an element greater than the current column number, and uses
     that element as the column to indent to.  It does nothing if no
     such element is found.

 - User Option: tab-stop-list
     This variable is the list of tab stop columns used by
     `tab-to-tab-stops'.  The elements should be integers in increasing
     order.  The tab stop columns need not be evenly spaced.

     Use `M-x edit-tab-stops' to edit the location of tab stops
     interactively.