Adding tab characters

Adding tab characters

[Kerry.Thurber]

Hello everyone,

I'm missing something obvious I think.  I want to create a tab
delimited file using emacs.  I can do it fine with a keyboard macro,
but I need to make something permanent that others can use.

(defun CreateTabDelimitedFile()
  "Convert JED logs into something Scott can use"
  (interactive)
  (beginning-of-buffer)
  (replace-string ";" "\009")  ;tried many other variants
)

In place of "\009" I tried ^I, ^Tab, an actual tab, "[tab]" and
everything else I could imagine.  Nothing seems to work.  Is there a
way to replace a string with a tab character?  Is there a way to
replace a string with another string *plus* a tab character?

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
Kerry

Re: Adding tab characters

[Brendan Halpin]

Kerry.Thurber@gmail.com writes:

> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm missing something obvious I think.  I want to create a tab
> delimited file using emacs.  I can do it fine with a keyboard macro,
> but I need to make something permanent that others can use.
>
> (defun CreateTabDelimitedFile()
>   "Convert JED logs into something Scott can use"
>   (interactive)
>   (beginning-of-buffer)
>   (replace-string ";" "\009")  ;tried many other variants
> )
>
> In place of "\009" I tried ^I, ^Tab, an actual tab, "[tab]" and
> everything else I could imagine.  Nothing seems to work.  Is there a
> way to replace a string with a tab character?  Is there a way to
> replace a string with another string *plus* a tab character?

An actual tab should work, but you need to enter it as C-Q TAB as Emacs
may enter spaces instead (or indent). However try:

 (replace-string ";" "\t")

\t stands for a literal tab. 

Brendan
-- 
Brendan Halpin,  Department of Sociology,  University of Limerick,  Ireland
Tel: w +353-61-213147 f +353-61-202569 h +353-61-338562; Room F2-025 x 3147
mailto:brendan.halpin@ul.ie  http://www.ul.ie/sociology/brendan.halpin.html

Re: Adding tab characters

[Kerry.Thurber]

On Mar 13, 10:26 am, Brendan Halpin <brendan.hal...@ul.ie> wrote:
> Kerry.Thur...@gmail.com writes:
> > Hello everyone,
>
> > I'm missing something obvious I think.  I want to create a tab
> > delimited file using emacs.  I can do it fine with a keyboard macro,
> > but I need to make something permanent that others can use.
>
> > (defun CreateTabDelimitedFile()
> >   "Convert JED logs into something Scott can use"
> >   (interactive)
> >   (beginning-of-buffer)
> >   (replace-string ";" "\009")  ;tried many other variants
> > )
>
> > In place of "\009" I tried ^I, ^Tab, an actual tab, "[tab]" and
> > everything else I could imagine.  Nothing seems to work.  Is there a
> > way to replace a string with a tab character?  Is there a way to
> > replace a string with another string *plus* a tab character?
>
> An actual tab should work, but you need to enter it as C-Q TAB as Emacs
> may enter spaces instead (or indent). However try:
>
>  (replace-string ";" "\t")
>
> \t stands for a literal tab.
>
> Brendan
> --
> Brendan Halpin,  Department of Sociology,  University of Limerick,  Ireland
> Tel: w +353-61-213147 f +353-61-202569 h +353-61-338562; Room F2-025 x 3147
> mailto:brendan.hal...@ul.ie  http://www.ul.ie/sociology/brendan.halpin.html

Thanks!

Re: Adding tab characters

[Joel J. Adamson]

Kerry.Thurber@gmail.com writes:

> Hello everyone,
>
> I'm missing something obvious I think.  I want to create a tab
> delimited file using emacs.  I can do it fine with a keyboard macro,
> but I need to make something permanent that others can use.
>
> (defun CreateTabDelimitedFile()
>   "Convert JED logs into something Scott can use"
>   (interactive)
>   (beginning-of-buffer)
>   (replace-string ";" "\009")  ;tried many other variants
> )

A couple notes on style: Lisp code usually separates words with hyphens
kinda-like-this, as in spicy-food-p.  CamelCase is generally avoided, 
AndWouldYouWantToTypeThat?  Also, it's easier to look at if the trailing
parentheses are all on one line)).

> In place of "\009" I tried ^I, ^Tab, an actual tab, "[tab]" and
> everything else I could imagine.

Can you imagine "\t"?

(info "(elisp) Basic Char Syntax")

Joel

-- 
Joel J. Adamson
Biostatistician
Pediatric Psychopharmacology Research Unit
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA  02114
(617) 643-1432
(303) 880-3109
Public key: http://pgp.mit.edu

The information transmitted in this electronic communication is intended only
for the person or entity to whom it is addressed and may contain confidential
and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other
use of or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or
entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this
information in error, please contact the Compliance HelpLine at 800-856-1983 and
properly dispose of this information.

Re: Adding tab characters

[Kevin Rodgers]

Kerry.Thurber@gmail.com wrote:
> Hello everyone,
> 
> I'm missing something obvious I think.  I want to create a tab
> delimited file using emacs.  I can do it fine with a keyboard macro,
> but I need to make something permanent that others can use.
> 
> (defun CreateTabDelimitedFile()
>   "Convert JED logs into something Scott can use"
>   (interactive)
>   (beginning-of-buffer)
>   (replace-string ";" "\009")  ;tried many other variants
> )
> 
> In place of "\009" I tried ^I, ^Tab, an actual tab, "[tab]" and
> everything else I could imagine.  Nothing seems to work.  Is there a
> way to replace a string with a tab character?  Is there a way to
> replace a string with another string *plus* a tab character?

The "\NNN" syntax is octal, so "\009" is interpreted as "\00" (NUL) 
followed by "9" (the digit).

"\011" is the octal syntax.  "\u0009" is the hexadecimal syntax.

"\^I" and "\C-i" (and "\C-I") are the control character syntaxes.


-- 
Kevin Rodgers
Denver, Colorado, USA