with indents
of 4 spaces), here is what you can use: >

	:set shiftwidth=4
	:set softtabstop=-1
	:set expandtab
<
  If you want the same behavior but with better control over alignment
(e.g.  lining up parameters or comments in multiples of 2 spaces), use: >

	:set shiftwidth=4
	:set softtabstop=2
	:set expandtab
	:set smarttab
<
  If instead, you would like to write C code like Bram Moolenaar would have
(using a mix of tabs and spaces), you can use >

	:set shiftwidth=4
	:set softtabstop=-1
<

==============================================================================
*30.6*	Formatting comments

One of the great things about Vim is that it understands comments.  You can
ask Vim to format a comment and it will do the right thing.
   Suppose, for example, that you have the following comment: >c

	/*
	 * This is a test
	 * of the text formatting.
	 */

You then ask Vim to format it by positioning the cursor at the start of the
comment and type: >

	gq]/

"gq" is the operator to format text.  "]/" is the motion that takes you to the
end of a comment.  The result is: >c

	/*
	 * This is a test of the text formatting.
	 */

Notice that Vim properly handled the beginning of each line.
  An alternative is to select the text that is to be formatted in Visual mode
and type "gq".

To add a new line to the comment, position the cursor on the middle line and
press "o".  The result looks like this: >c

	/*
	 * This is a test of the text formatting.
	 *
	 */

Vim has automatically inserted a star and a space for you.  Now you can type
the comment text.  When it gets longer than 'textwidth', Vim will break the
line.  Again, the star is inserted automatically: >c

	/*
	 * This is a test of the text formatting.
	 * Typing a lot of text here will make Vim
	 * break
	 */

For this to work some flags must be present in 'formatoptions':

	r	insert the star when typing <Enter> in Insert mode
	o	insert the star when using "o" or "O" in Normal mode
	c	break comment text according to 'textwidth'

See |fo-table| for more flags.


DEFINING A COMMENT

The 'comments' option defines what a comment looks like.  Vim distinguishes
between a single-line comment and a comment that has a different start, end
and middle part.
   Many single-line comments start with a specific character.  In C++ // is
used, in Makefiles #, in Vim scripts ".  For example, to make Vim understand
C++ comments: >

	:set comments=://

The colon separates the flags of an item from the text by which the comment is
recognized.