Avoid spaces getting converted to tabs automatically during shift(>>)

Question

I use 2 spaces as indentation. So I set shiftwidth using :set sw=2.

However when I do the shift operator(>>) on a line twice, the indentation converts the 4 spaces automatically to a tab. So to avoid this, I set tabstop to a high value say 60 using :set ts=60 and the shift operator works (does NOT convert space to tab).

My question is, Is this the right way to do? Am I missing a simpler solution?

Answer 1

Set the 'expandtab' option setting. This will prevent shifting from replacing indent by using TABs.

Answer 2

I have two functions that swap back and forth between tabs and spaces, as well, if interested.

function! Tabstyle_tabs()
  " Default to using 8 column tabs
  set softtabstop=8
  set shiftwidth=8
  set tabstop=8
  set noexpandtab
endfunction

function! Tabstyle_spaces()
  " Default to using 4 column indents
  set softtabstop=4
  set shiftwidth=4
  set tabstop=4
  set expandtab
endfunction

You can set the 8 and 4 to whatever sizes you like of course.
I'd started to work on a function that takes variable size tabstop, but haven't bothered, as I use autocmds for different file types and this use these functions only when necessary otherwise.

Answer 3

The YAIFA plugin may be of interest.

It tries to auto-detect the indentation method used in the current file, and set your expandtab tabstop and shiftwidth options appropriately.