/sys$common/syshlp/helplib.hlb SET, PRINTER, Qualifiers, /TAB  *Conan The Librarian (sorry for the slow response - running on an old VAX)

       /TAB
       /NOTAB (default)

    Controls how the printer handles TAB characters. The /NOTAB
    qualifier expands all tab characters to spaces and assumes tab
    stops at 8-character intervals.

    Use the /TAB qualifier when you do not want the system to
    convert tabs to spaces, but want the printer to process the tab
    characters. The OpenVMS system requires that printers expand tabs
    at 8-character intervals.