Modifying default tab size in RichTextBox

Question

Is there any way to change the default tab size in a .NET RichTextBox? It currently seems to be set to the equivalent of 8 spaces which is kinda large for my taste.

Answer 1

Winforms doesn't have a property to set the default tab size of a RichTexBox with a single number, but if you're prepared to dig into the Rtf of the rich text box, and modify that, there's a setting you can use called: "\deftab". The number afterwards indicates the number of twips (1 point = 1/72 inch = 20 twips). The resulting Rtf with the standard tab size of 720 twips could look something like:

{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057\deftab720{\fonttbl{\f0\fnil\fcharset0 Microsoft Sans Serif;}}
\viewkind4\uc1\pard\f0\fs41
1\tab 2\tab 3\tab 4\tab 5\par
}

If you need to convert twips into pixels, use this code inspired from Convert Pixels to Points:

int tabSize=720;
Graphics g = this.CreateGraphics();
int pixels = (int)Math.Round(((double)tabSize) / 1440.0 * g.DpiX);
g.Dispose();