diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py b/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py
index 31f400c..ed6b1a1 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/EditorWindow.py
@@ -157,12 +157,12 @@
         vbar['command'] = text.yview
         vbar.pack(side=RIGHT, fill=Y)
         text['yscrollcommand'] = vbar.set
-        fontWeight='normal'
-        if idleConf.GetOption('main','EditorWindow','font-bold',type='bool'):
+        fontWeight = 'normal'
+        if idleConf.GetOption('main', 'EditorWindow', 'font-bold', type='bool'):
             fontWeight='bold'
-        text.config(font=(idleConf.GetOption('main','EditorWindow','font'),
-                idleConf.GetOption('main','EditorWindow','font-size'),
-                fontWeight))
+        text.config(font=(idleConf.GetOption('main', 'EditorWindow', 'font'),
+                          idleConf.GetOption('main', 'EditorWindow', 'font-size'),
+                          fontWeight))
         text_frame.pack(side=LEFT, fill=BOTH, expand=1)
         text.pack(side=TOP, fill=BOTH, expand=1)
         text.focus_set()
@@ -173,19 +173,23 @@
         #                  which will cause Tabnanny to nag!
         #         false -> tab characters are converted to spaces by indent
         #                  and dedent cmds, and ditto TAB keystrokes
-        self.usetabs = False
-
-        # indentwidth is the number of characters per logical indent level.
-        # Recommended Python default indent is four spaces.
-        self.indentwidth = 4
+        # Although use-spaces=0 can be configured manually in config-main.def,
+        # configuration of tabs v. spaces is not supported in the configuration
+        # dialog.  IDLE promotes the preferred Python indentation: use spaces!
+        usespaces = idleConf.GetOption('main', 'Indent', 'use-spaces', type='bool')
+        self.usetabs = not usespaces
 
         # tabwidth is the display width of a literal tab character.
         # CAUTION:  telling Tk to use anything other than its default
         # tab setting causes it to use an entirely different tabbing algorithm,
         # treating tab stops as fixed distances from the left margin.
         # Nobody expects this, so for now tabwidth should never be changed.
-        self.tabwidth = 8    # for IDLE use, must remain 8 until Tk is fixed.
-                             # indentwidth should be 8 when usetabs is True.
+        self.tabwidth = 8    # must remain 8 until Tk is fixed.
+
+        # indentwidth is the number of screen characters per indent level.
+        # The recommended Python indentation is four spaces.
+        self.indentwidth = self.tabwidth
+        self.set_notabs_indentwidth()
 
         # If context_use_ps1 is true, parsing searches back for a ps1 line;
         # else searches for a popular (if, def, ...) Python stmt.
@@ -583,6 +587,13 @@
                             accel=get_accelerator(keydefs, event)
                             menu.entryconfig(index,accelerator=accel)
 
+    def set_notabs_indentwidth(self):
+        "Update the indentwidth if changed and not using tabs in this window"
+        # Called from configDialog.py
+        if not self.usetabs:
+            self.indentwidth = idleConf.GetOption('main', 'Indent','num-spaces',
+                                                  type='int')
+
     def reset_help_menu_entries(self):
         "Update the additional help entries on the Help menu"
         help_list = idleConf.GetAllExtraHelpSourcesList()
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt b/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
index fd01d33..8804bc1 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/NEWS.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,15 @@
 
 *Release date: XX-XXX-2005*
 
+- Removed ability to configure tabs indent from Options dialog.  This 'feature'
+  has never worked and no one has complained.  It is still possible to set a
+  default tabs (v. spaces) indent 'manually' via config-main.def (or to turn on
+  tabs for the current EditorWindow via the Format menu) but IDLE will
+  encourage indentation via spaces.
+
+- Enable setting the indentation width using the Options dialog.
+  Bug # 783877
+
 - Add keybindings for del-word-left and del-word-right.
 
 - Discourage using an indent width other than 8 when using tabs to indent
diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/configDialog.py b/Lib/idlelib/configDialog.py
index 48f22b8..1984845 100644
--- a/Lib/idlelib/configDialog.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/configDialog.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 and default window size.  Define additional help sources.
 
 Note that tab width in IDLE is currently fixed at eight due to Tk issues.
-Refer to comment in EditorWindow autoindent code for details.
+Refer to comments in EditorWindow autoindent code for details.
 
 """
 from Tkinter import *
@@ -21,9 +21,7 @@
 from configHelpSourceEdit import GetHelpSourceDialog
 
 class ConfigDialog(Toplevel):
-    """
-    configuration dialog for idle
-    """
+
     def __init__(self,parent,title):
         Toplevel.__init__(self, parent)
         self.configure(borderwidth=5)
@@ -93,8 +91,6 @@
         self.fontBold=BooleanVar(self)
         self.fontName=StringVar(self)
         self.spaceNum=IntVar(self)
-        #self.tabCols=IntVar(self)
-        self.indentBySpaces=BooleanVar(self)
         self.editFont=tkFont.Font(self,('courier',10,'normal'))
         ##widget creation
         #body frame
@@ -124,25 +120,12 @@
                 text='AaBbCcDdEe\nFfGgHhIiJjK\n1234567890\n#:+=(){}[]',
                 justify=LEFT,font=self.editFont)
         #frameIndent
-        labelIndentTitle=Label(frameIndent,text='Set Indentation Defaults')
-        frameIndentType=Frame(frameIndent)
         frameIndentSize=Frame(frameIndent)
-        labelIndentTypeTitle=Label(frameIndentType,
-                text='Choose indentation type :')
-        radioUseSpaces=Radiobutton(frameIndentType,variable=self.indentBySpaces,
-            value=1,text='Tab key inserts spaces')
-        radioUseTabs=Radiobutton(frameIndentType,variable=self.indentBySpaces,
-            value=0,text='Tab key inserts tabs')
-        labelIndentSizeTitle=Label(frameIndentSize,
-                text='Choose indentation size :')
-        labelSpaceNumTitle=Label(frameIndentSize,justify=LEFT,
-                text='indent width')
-        self.scaleSpaceNum=Scale(frameIndentSize,variable=self.spaceNum,
-                orient='horizontal',tickinterval=2,from_=2,to=16)
-        #labeltabColsTitle=Label(frameIndentSize,justify=LEFT,
-        #        text='when tab key inserts tabs,\ncolumns per tab')
-        #self.scaleTabCols=Scale(frameIndentSize,variable=self.tabCols,
-        #        orient='horizontal',tickinterval=2,from_=2,to=8)
+        labelSpaceNumTitle=Label(frameIndentSize, justify=LEFT,
+                                 text='Python Standard: 4 Spaces!')
+        self.scaleSpaceNum=Scale(frameIndentSize, variable=self.spaceNum,
+                                 label='Indentation Width', orient='horizontal',
+                                 tickinterval=2, from_=2, to=16)
         #widget packing
         #body
         frameFont.pack(side=LEFT,padx=5,pady=10,expand=TRUE,fill=BOTH)
@@ -160,17 +143,9 @@
         frameFontSample.pack(side=TOP,padx=5,pady=5,expand=TRUE,fill=BOTH)
         self.labelFontSample.pack(expand=TRUE,fill=BOTH)
         #frameIndent
-        labelIndentTitle.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,padx=5,pady=5)
-        frameIndentType.pack(side=TOP,padx=5,fill=X)
         frameIndentSize.pack(side=TOP,padx=5,pady=5,fill=BOTH)
-        labelIndentTypeTitle.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,padx=5,pady=5)
-        radioUseSpaces.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,padx=5)
-        radioUseTabs.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,padx=5)
-        labelIndentSizeTitle.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,padx=5,pady=5)
         labelSpaceNumTitle.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,padx=5)
         self.scaleSpaceNum.pack(side=TOP,padx=5,fill=X)
-        #labeltabColsTitle.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,padx=5)
-        #self.scaleTabCols.pack(side=TOP,padx=5,fill=X)
         return frame
 
     def CreatePageHighlight(self):
@@ -390,7 +365,6 @@
         radioEncNone=Radiobutton(frameEncoding,variable=self.encoding,
             value="none",text="None")
         #frameHelp
-        ##labelHelpTitle=Label(frameHelp,text='Help Options')
         frameHelpList=Frame(frameHelp)
         frameHelpListButtons=Frame(frameHelpList)
         labelHelpListTitle=Label(frameHelpList,text='Additional Help Sources:')
@@ -406,13 +380,6 @@
                 width=8,command=self.HelpListItemAdd)
         self.buttonHelpListRemove=Button(frameHelpListButtons,text='Remove',
                 state=DISABLED,width=8,command=self.HelpListItemRemove)
-        # the following is better handled by the BROWSER environment
-        # variable under unix/linux
-        #checkHelpBrowser=Checkbutton(frameHelp,variable=self.userHelpBrowser,
-        #    onvalue=1,offvalue=0,text='user specified (html) help browser:',
-        #    command=self.OnCheckUserHelpBrowser)
-        #self.entryHelpBrowser=Entry(frameHelp,textvariable=self.helpBrowser,
-        #        width=40)
         #widget packing
         #body
         frameRun.pack(side=TOP,padx=5,pady=5,fill=X)
@@ -446,7 +413,6 @@
         radioEncUTF8.pack(side=RIGHT,anchor=E,pady=5)
         radioEncLocale.pack(side=RIGHT,anchor=E,pady=5)
         #frameHelp
-        ##labelHelpTitle.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,padx=5,pady=5)
         frameHelpListButtons.pack(side=RIGHT,padx=5,pady=5,fill=Y)
         frameHelpList.pack(side=TOP,padx=5,pady=5,expand=TRUE,fill=BOTH)
         labelHelpListTitle.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W)
@@ -455,8 +421,6 @@
         self.buttonHelpListEdit.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,pady=5)
         self.buttonHelpListAdd.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W)
         self.buttonHelpListRemove.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,pady=5)
-        #checkHelpBrowser.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,padx=5)
-        #self.entryHelpBrowser.pack(side=TOP,anchor=W,padx=5,pady=5)
         return frame
 
     def AttachVarCallbacks(self):
@@ -464,8 +428,6 @@
         self.fontName.trace_variable('w',self.VarChanged_fontName)
         self.fontBold.trace_variable('w',self.VarChanged_fontBold)
         self.spaceNum.trace_variable('w',self.VarChanged_spaceNum)
-        #self.tabCols.trace_variable('w',self.VarChanged_tabCols)
-        self.indentBySpaces.trace_variable('w',self.VarChanged_indentBySpaces)
         self.colour.trace_variable('w',self.VarChanged_colour)
         self.builtinTheme.trace_variable('w',self.VarChanged_builtinTheme)
         self.customTheme.trace_variable('w',self.VarChanged_customTheme)
@@ -494,18 +456,10 @@
         value=self.fontBold.get()
         self.AddChangedItem('main','EditorWindow','font-bold',value)
 
-    def VarChanged_indentBySpaces(self,*params):
-        value=self.indentBySpaces.get()
-        self.AddChangedItem('main','Indent','use-spaces',value)
-
     def VarChanged_spaceNum(self,*params):
         value=self.spaceNum.get()
         self.AddChangedItem('main','Indent','num-spaces',value)
 
-    #def VarChanged_tabCols(self,*params):
-    #    value=self.tabCols.get()
-    #    self.AddChangedItem('main','Indent','tab-cols',value)
-
     def VarChanged_colour(self,*params):
         self.OnNewColourSet()
 
@@ -912,12 +866,6 @@
             self.textHighlightSample.tag_config(element, **colours)
         self.SetColourSample()
 
-##     def OnCheckUserHelpBrowser(self):
-##         if self.userHelpBrowser.get():
-##             self.entryHelpBrowser.config(state=NORMAL)
-##         else:
-##             self.entryHelpBrowser.config(state=DISABLED)
-
     def HelpSourceSelected(self,event):
         self.SetHelpListButtonStates()
 
@@ -996,17 +944,10 @@
         self.SetFontSample()
 
     def LoadTabCfg(self):
-        ##indent type radiobuttons
-        spaceIndent=idleConf.GetOption('main','Indent','use-spaces',
-                default=1,type='bool')
-        self.indentBySpaces.set(spaceIndent)
         ##indent sizes
         spaceNum=idleConf.GetOption('main','Indent','num-spaces',
                 default=4,type='int')
-        #tabCols=idleConf.GetOption('main','Indent','tab-cols',
-        #        default=4,type='int')
         self.spaceNum.set(spaceNum)
-        #self.tabCols.set(tabCols)
 
     def LoadThemeCfg(self):
         ##current theme type radiobutton
@@ -1096,11 +1037,6 @@
         for helpItem in self.userHelpList:
             self.listHelp.insert(END,helpItem[0])
         self.SetHelpListButtonStates()
-        #self.userHelpBrowser.set(idleConf.GetOption('main','General',
-        #        'user-help-browser',default=0,type='bool'))
-        #self.helpBrowser.set(idleConf.GetOption('main','General',
-        #        'user-help-browser-command',default=''))
-        #self.OnCheckUserHelpBrowser()
 
     def LoadConfigs(self):
         """
@@ -1171,17 +1107,12 @@
         self.ResetChangedItems() #clear the changed items dict
 
     def ActivateConfigChanges(self):
-        #things that need to be done to make
-        #applied config changes dynamic:
-        #update editor/shell font and repaint
-        #dynamically update indentation setttings
-        #update theme and repaint
-        #update keybindings and re-bind
-        #update user help sources menu
+        "Dynamically apply configuration changes"
         winInstances=self.parent.instance_dict.keys()
         for instance in winInstances:
             instance.ResetColorizer()
             instance.ResetFont()
+            instance.set_notabs_indentwidth()
             instance.ResetKeybindings()
             instance.reset_help_menu_entries()