Convert tab elements to tab characters

3 files changed, 15 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 5c77c48..5b65b2c 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# 1.4.17
+
+* When extracting raw text, convert tab elements to tab characters.
+
 # 1.4.16
 
 * Handle w:num with invalid w:abstractNumId.
diff --git a/mammoth/raw_text.py b/mammoth/raw_text.py
index ccf50ed..5ffe59f 100644
--- a/mammoth/raw_text.py
+++ b/mammoth/raw_text.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ from . import documents
 def extract_raw_text_from_element(element):
     if isinstance(element, documents.Text):
         return element.value
+    elif isinstance(element, documents.Tab):
+        return "\t"
     else:
         text = "".join(map(extract_raw_text_from_element, getattr(element, "children", [])))
         if isinstance(element, documents.Paragraph):
diff --git a/tests/raw_text_tests.py b/tests/raw_text_tests.py
index 46602e7..7dd44a0 100644
--- a/tests/raw_text_tests.py
+++ b/tests/raw_text_tests.py
@@ -14,6 +14,15 @@ def text_element_is_converted_to_text_content():
 
 
 @istest
+def tab_element_is_converted_to_tab_character():
+    element = documents.tab()
+
+    result = extract_raw_text_from_element(element)
+
+    assert_equal("\t", result)
+
+
+@istest
 def paragraphs_are_terminated_with_newlines():
     element = documents.paragraph(
         children=[