This chapter describes how SWAP replaces TAB characters with blanks. SWAP allows you to replace TAB characters with blanks. By default, SWAP does not replace TAB characters with blanks, if /TAB is specified without a value SWAP will substitute eight (8) blanks for each TAB character. To change this number use the /TAB=n qualifier. When using the menu enter the number of spaces tabs should be changed to in the spaces/tab item on the modify setup menu; if this value is blank no substitution will take place.
If you want to change all the tabs in a file (or group of files) with spaces, but do not want to perform a substitution, use the following command:
$ SWAP/TAB=n/STATISTICS file_name.ext "" ""
The above command will convert all tabs in file_spec.ext to n spaces. It will not perform any other substitution.
NOTE: Tab removal is done BEFORE the record is truncated or searched. Tabs are replaced within the /RANGE and /COLUMNS boundaries ONLY. It is strongly suggested that the /STATISTICS qualifier be used with the /TAB qualifier. This will provide statistics regarding the tab substitutions made.
