[indentation] How to remove tab indent from several lines in IDLE?

If you want to indent several lines in Python IDLE you just mark the lines and hit Tab. But what if you want to remove the indent from several lines? Shift+Tab does not work for that in IDLE.

This question is related to indentation python-idle code-editor

The answer is


If you're using IDLE, and the Norwegian keyboard makes Ctrl-[ a problem, you can change the key.

  1. Go Options->Configure IDLE.
  2. Click the Keys tab.
  3. If necessary, click Save as New Custom Key Set.
  4. With your custom key set, find "dedent-region" in the list.
  5. Click Get New Keys for Selection.
  6. etc

I tried putting in shift-Tab and that worked nicely.


By default, IDLE has it on Shift-Left Bracket. However, if you want, you can customise it to be Shift-Tab by clicking Options --> Configure IDLE --> Keys --> Use a Custom Key Set --> dedent-region --> Get New Keys for Selection

Then you can choose whatever combination you want. (Don't forget to click apply otherwise all the settings would not get affected.)


in pythonwin,

SHIFT + TAB works


Shift-Tab
Ctrl-Tab
< key

depends on your editor.


For IDLE, select the lines, then open the "Format" menu. (Between "Edit" and "Run" if you're having trouble finding it.) This will also give you the keyboard shortcut, for me it turned out that dedent shortcut was "Ctrl+["


In Jupyter Notebook,

 SHIFT+ TAB(to move left) and TAB(to move right) movement is perfectly working.

If you're using IDLE, you can use Ctrl+] to indent and Ctrl+[ to unindent.


Depends on your editor.

Have you tried Shift+Tab?