# Changing tab options

You can change what happens when you press the tab key in the editor.

- Check Text > Use Tabs to insert a single tab character
- Uncheck Text > Use Tabs to insert a number of spaces

To change the number of spaces used to represent a tab:

- Choose an option from the Text > Tab Width sub-menu

To convert existing tabs in a file to runs of spaces:

- Choose Text > Detab

To convert runs of spaces in a file to single tab characters:

- Choose Text > Entab

You can set the default settings for tab use and tab width in the preferences:

1. Choose Coda > Preferences...
2. Click Editor
3. Adjust the Tab Width field to your liking
4. Adjust the options in the Editor Defaults group to your liking