"svn patch" and the TAB character

Folks:

If I use "svn diff --patch compatible" to produce a patch file. Then edit
that patch file using an editor with settings that replace the TAB with a
"proper" number of SPACE characters, the "svn patch" command will declare:

$ svn patch ../n.txt
Skipped missing target: 'TheFile (revision 18)'
Summary of conflicts:
  Skipped paths: 1

(the TAB was between "TheFile" and "(revision...)". Changing the spaces
back to a tab enables the "svn patch" command to work.

I'm wondering if this is:
A. "goodness" as in "protection against diff chunks being
contaminated/modified" or
B. "bug" as in "the other patch tools out there don't enforce that TAB".

I looked through old postings and didn't see a discussion.

Thoughts?

Cheers.

Doug

-- 
*DOUGLAS B ROBINSON* SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER
T +1 925 396 1125
*E* doug.robinson_at_wandisco.com
-- 
* <http://wandisco.com/>*
**The *LiveData* Company
*Find out more 
*wandisco.com <http://wandisco.com/>*
 
<https://www.wandisco.com/liveanalytics>
THIS MESSAGE AND ANY ATTACHMENTS 
ARE CONFIDENTIAL, PROPRIETARY AND MAY BE PRIVILEGED
*
If this message was 
misdirected, WANdisco, Inc. and its subsidiaries, ("WANdisco") does not 
waive any confidentiality or privilege. If you are not the intended 
recipient, please notify us immediately and destroy the message without 
disclosing its contents to anyone. Any distribution, use or copying of this 
email or the information it contains by other than an intended recipient is 
unauthorized. The views and opinions expressed in this email message are 
the author's own and may not reflect the views and opinions of WANdisco, 
unless the author is authorized by WANdisco to express such views or 
opinions on its behalf. All email sent to or from this address is subject 
to electronic storage and review by WANdisco. Although WANdisco operates 
anti-virus programs, it does not accept responsibility for any damage 
whatsoever caused by viruses being passed.