[tz] Tab/Space Formatting Inconsistency - Asia Ver 2023c

[Brian Inglis]

On 2023-12-12 18:46, Paul Gilmartin via tz wrote:
> On 12/12/23 17:25:15, Paul Eggert via tz wrote:
>>     ...
>> As Alois writes, this is merely a visual appearance issue; it doesn't affect 
>> the meaning of the data.

> Sometimes it matters.  "make" requires build rules to be introduced
> by tabs. not spaces.  And I know a couple lexical analyzers which
> recognize spaces but not tabs as separating tokens.

>> Spaces are sometimes used instead of tabs, when using a tab would cause 
>> columns or lines to not fit. For example, consider the line:
>>     ...
>> Rule EgyptAsia    1957    only    -    May    10    0:00    1:00    S
>>     ...
>> We prefer data to be 80 character columns or less for the usual reasons; see, 
>> for example <https://www.emacswiki.org/emacs/EightyColumnRule>. So we use a 
>> space instead of a tab there.

> Which says,
>      “Thou shalt not cross 80 columns in thy file” originated from
>      IBM 80 column punch cards, ...
> On IBM 80 column punch cards, the tab, 0x05 (rarely used), occupies
> only a single column, regardless of its appearance on output devices.

ITYM ...tab, 12-9-5 (EBCDIC 0x05 - rarely used),...

...I would go so far as to say never used except perhaps internally in software.

-- 
Take care. Thanks, Brian Inglis              Calgary, Alberta, Canada

La perfection est atteinte                   Perfection is achieved
non pas lorsqu'il n'y a plus rien à ajouter  not when there is no more to add
mais lorsqu'il n'y a plus rien à retirer     but when there is no more to cut
                                 -- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry