EDIT.COM Will Convert Eight Spaces to a Tab in Some Cases (74196)

MORE INFORMATION

If a file containing tab characters is loaded into Edit, all lines with eight or more leading spaces will have groups of eight spaces converted to tab characters. The following steps will reproduce the symptoms:

1. Create a two-line file with Edlin as follows:

              EDLIN NEW.TXT
         1i
         <TAB>LINE ONE
         <6 SPACES>LINE TWO
         ^C
         E
   						

2. Edit the file with EDIT.COM and append the following line:

      <8 SPACES>SPACES
   						

3. Save the file. The third line will now be <tab>SPACES.
4. To verify this, bring the file up under Edlin.
5. Press 3 and press ENTER.
6. Press the F1 key. The cursor will jump to the right one tab (six spaces). Any other groups of eight or more spaces at the front of a line will have groups of eight spaces replaced by tabs.

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here as it becomes available.