dave said:
>   When producing a .txt file it is easy.
>
>   I insert spaces at the beginning of a line,
>   just as I do when programming.
>
>   My paragraphs are just two consecutive new lines.  
>
>   IME tabs can be anything from 2 to 8 spaces
>   and so often display wrongly.

bingo.  there's the "right" answer.  thanks dave.

-bowerbird