Fix spaces detection

CHANGELOG.adoc

@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@ and this project adheres to http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html[Semantic Versioni
 - Fix selection of items (variables, test names, keywords) from Project Explorer and highlight at Text Editor.
 - Fixed Tab spacing in Text Editor. When pressing tab the expected spaces were not written, causing failing steps.
 
+=== Changed
+- Improved spaces detection in test suites reader.
+
 == https://github.com/robotframework/RIDE/blob/master/doc/releasenotes/ride-2.2.4.rst[2.2.4] - 2026-07-09
 
 === Fixed

README.adoc

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ Likewise, the current version of wxPython, is 4.2.5, but RIDE is known to work w
 
 `pip install -U robotframework-ride`
 
-(3.9 <= python <= 3.14) Install current development version (**2.2.5dev3**) with:
+(3.9 <= python <= 3.14) Install current development version (**2.2.5dev5**) with:
 
 `pip install -U https://github.com/robotframework/RIDE/archive/develop.zip`
 

src/robotide/application/releasenotes.py

@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ def set_content(self, html_win, content):
  even if used correctly in another local keyword.</li>
 <li>🐞 - RIDE <strong>DOES NOT KEEP</strong> Test Suites formatting or structure, causing differences in files when used
  on other IDE or Editors. The option to not reformat the file is not working.</li>
- <li>🐞 - The feature Auto-Save may cause a crash of RIDE in certain systems. This was experienced in AlmaLinux 9.6 with Gnome Unity, Python 3.13 and wxPython 4.2.3. The files are correctly saved, but RIDE closes. It is recommended to set the Auto-Save time as zero if this happens.</li>
+<li>🐞 - The feature Auto-Save may cause a crash of RIDE in certain systems. This was experienced in AlmaLinux 9.6 with Gnome Unity, Python 3.13 and wxPython 4.2.3. The files are correctly saved, but RIDE closes. It is recommended to set the Auto-Save time as zero if this happens.</li>
 <li>🐞 - In Grid Editor, when showing settings, scrolling down with mouse or using down is not working. You can change
  to Text Editor and back to Grid Editor, to restore normal behavior.</li>
 <li>🐞 - In Files Explorer, when in floating window, the files tree is not always using all available space.
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ def set_content(self, html_win, content):
 </ul>
 <p><strong>New Features and Fixes Highlights</strong></p>
 <ul class="simple">
+<li>Improved spaces detection in test suites reader.</li>
 <li>Fix selection of items (variables, test names, keywords) from Project Explorer and highlight at Text Editor.</li>
 <li>Fixed Tab spacing in Text Editor. When pressing tab the expected spaces were not written, causing failing steps.</li>
 <li>Changed Auto-Save to only save when user is not typing, and if code is in error show message in status bar.</li>
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ def set_content(self, html_win, content):
 <pre class="literal-block">python -m robotide.postinstall -install</pre>
 <p>or</p>
 <pre class="literal-block">ride_postinstall.py -install</pre>
-<p>RIDE {VERSION} was released on 22/July/2026.</p>
+<p>RIDE {VERSION} was released on 30/July/2026.</p>
 <br/>
 <!-- 
 <h3>Celebrate the bank holiday, 1st December, Restoration of the Independence of Portugal (from Spain in 1640)!!</h3>

src/robotide/lib/robot/parsing/robotreader.py

@@ -170,23 +170,11 @@ def check_separator(self, line):
                 return
             if not self._cell_section:
                 return
-            spc = idx = nospc = 0
-            for idx in range(0, len(line)):
-                if line[idx] != ' ':
-                    nospc += 1
-                    # if spc <= 2:
-                    #     spc = -1
-                    #
-                    if spc >= 2:
-                        break
-                    spc = 0
-                elif line[idx] == ' ':  # and nospc > 0:
-                    spc += 1
-            if nospc > 0 and spc < 2:  # We need a step, not test case or kw name (nospc == 0 and spc <= 2 or )
+            content = line.rstrip(' \t\xa0')
+            separator = re.search(r"[ \xa0]{2,}|\t+", content)
+            if not separator:
                 return
-            spc = max(2, spc)
-            if 2 <= spc <= 10:  # This max limit is reasonable
-                self._spaces = spc
-                self._space_splitter = re.compile(r"[ \t\xa0]{" + f"{self._spaces}" + "}|\t+")
-                self._separator_check = True
-                # print(f"DEBUG: RFLib RobotReader check_separator changed spaces={self._spaces}")
+            self._spaces = max(2, len(separator.group()))
+            self._space_splitter = re.compile(r"[ \t\xa0]{" + f"{self._spaces}" + "}|\t+")
+            self._separator_check = True
+            # print(f"DEBUG: RFLib RobotReader check_separator changed spaces={self._spaces}")

src/robotide/version.py

@@ -15,4 +15,4 @@
 #
 # Automatically generated by `tasks.py`.
 
-VERSION = 'v2.2.5dev4'
+VERSION = 'v2.2.5dev5'

utest/lib/robot/parsing/test_robotreader.py

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+from robotide.lib.robot.parsing.robotreader import RobotReader
+
+
+def test_reads_two_space_separators_when_four_spaces_are_configured():
+    reader = RobotReader(spaces=4, lang=["en"])
+    assert reader._spaces == 4
+    reader.check_separator("*** Test Cases ***")
+    assert reader._cell_section is True
+    assert reader._separator_check is False
+    reader.check_separator("First test case")
+    row = "  Keyword with two arguments  arg1  arg2"
+
+    reader.check_separator(row)
+    assert reader._spaces == 2
+    assert reader._separator_check is True
+
+    assert reader.split_row(row) == [
+        "",
+        "Keyword with two arguments",
+        "arg1",
+        "arg2",
+    ]
+
+    reader.check_separator("*** Keywords ***")
+    assert reader._cell_section is True
+    assert reader._separator_check is False
+    reader.check_separator("Bad Spacing Keyword")
+    row = "      Log      Content      console=True"
+
+    reader.check_separator(row)
+    assert reader._separator_check is True
+    assert reader._spaces == 6
+    assert reader.split_row(row) == [
+        "",
+        "Log",
+        "Content",
+        "console=True",
+    ]