notepad-plus-plus / notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus

[BUG] Incorrect tab behavior in column mode

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scintilla dependent
Dominant language
C++
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Description

Is there an existing issue for this?
  • I have searched the existing issues
Is the issue reproducible in Notepad++ without plugin?
  • I have tried Notepad++ without plugin
Is the issue reproducible in portable version of Notepad++?
  • I have tried portable version of Notepad++
Does the issue affect SciTE?
  • I have tried SciTE
Description of the Issue

Using tabs in column mode breaks some of the lines that start with a tab or space.

Steps To Reproduce
  1. Start 1st line with some text
  2. Start 2nd line with one tab key and add some text
  3. Start 3rd line with two tab keys and add some text
  4. Make vertical selection (column mode) at the beginning of all lines
  5. Press tab key multiple times
Current Behavior

Image

Expected Behavior

Image

Debug Information
Notepad++ v8.9   (64-bit)
Build time: Dec 27 2025 - 14:28:33
Scintilla/Lexilla included: 5.5.8/5.4.6
Boost Regex included: 1_85
TinyXML-2 included: 11.0.0
nlohmann JSON included: 3.12.0
Path: G:\_System\Users\Home\Downloads\npp.8.9.portable.minimalist.x64\notepad++.exe
Command Line: 
Admin mode: ON
Local Conf mode: ON
Cloud Config: OFF
Periodic Backup: ON
Placeholders: OFF
Scintilla Rendering Mode: SC_TECHNOLOGY_DIRECTWRITE (1)
Multi-instance Mode: monoInst
asNotepad: OFF
File Status Auto-Detection: cdEnabledNew (for current file/tab only)
Dark Mode: OFF
Display Info:
    primary monitor: 1680x1050, scaling 100%
    visible monitors count: 1
    installed Display Class adapters: 
        0000: Description - AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series
        0000: DriverVersion - 27.20.14540.4003
OS Name: Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2021 (64-bit)
OS Version: 21H2
OS Build: 19044.1288
Current ANSI codepage: 1251
Plugins: none
Anything else?
  1. The issue comes from https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/b06678d73801785f2457d12d1cf641546744c371
  2. The last working commit is https://github.com/notepad-plus-plus/notepad-plus-plus/commit/c696f6fa79ce70205302dd4d49898624bbe294af
  3. The last working N++ version is 8.8.8
  4. The issue exist in SciTE 5.5.8
  5. The last working SciTE version is 5.5.7
  6. Maybe this can help https://sourceforge.net/p/scintilla/feature-requests/1567/

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Reproduce the column-mode tab sequence in Notepad++ 8.9, then compare commits b06678d73801785f2457d12d1cf641546744c371 and c696f6fa79ce70205302dd4d49898624bbe294af. Read the linked Scintilla feature request and verify the fix against the expected behavior, including lines beginning with spaces or tabs.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
cpp
Domain
desktop
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Active
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
52/100

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