Configure native vi to emit spaces instead of tabs and not convert autoindent spaces to tabs?

Question

I would like to use spaces instead of tabs when editing Perl scripts with the native vi found on Solaris systems.

I know this can be done with the vim clone, but I don't have access to install vim on these systems as they are vendor locked.

Firstly, is there a way to configure vi to emit spaces when I press TAB?

And secondly, I am also using the auto-indent feature of vi:

:set ai

The problem is, when I manually enter spaces for indenting vi converts groups of 8 spaces into tabs automatically when it does auto-indenting. I guess if I can find a way to turn this functionality off it will be a start.

Answer 1

For an outside-the-box option, could you export the Solaris filesystem using NFS and edit the files you need on another system with a more capable editor?

Answer 2

I believe you want

:set et

(short for expandtabs). I think vi classic supports it.