I am writing a Python script which writes some formatted data into a YAML file. I am using tabs for formatting the text, but I want the tabs to be converted into spaces when written into the YAML file. This is because my YAML file does not take tabs as valid indentation tokens.
I have tried this:
Step 1: Go to your home directory
cd ~
Step 2: Create the file
vim .vimrc
Step 3: Add the configuration stated below
set smartindent
set tabstop=4
set shiftwidth=4
set expandtab
:retab
But this does not work. The YAML file created still has tabs. The tabs are not converted to spaces.
Please suggest what changes should I make into my .vimrc file so that tabs are converted into spaces for valid indentation.
The Python script:
template = open("/home/stack/horizon/openstack_dashboard/dashboards/mydashboard/mypanel/extracted_template.yaml","w")
networks = api.neutron.network_list_for_tenant(self.request,tenant_id,params={})
for n in range(0,len(networks)):
n_name = networks[n]['name']
print>>template,"\tprivate_net%d:"%n,"\n\t type: OS::Neutron::Net","\n\t properties:","\n\t name:",n_name
To convert tabs to spaces use the commands below in the order below:
:set noexpandtab
:retab!
:set expandtab
:retab!
I go this answer from watching this vim cast. Tidying Whitespace
Vim can already detect the file type yaml so you can use that to replace all TAB's in your YAML file add this your .vimrc
:autocmd FileType yaml execute ':silent! %s#^\t\+#\=repeat(" ", len(submatch(0))*' . &ts . ')'