def encodeList(items):
    """ Encode list of items in user data file

    Items are separated by '\t' characters.

    @param items: list unicode strings
    @rtype: unicode
    @return: list encoded as unicode
    """
    line = []
    for item in items:
        item = item.strip()
        if not item:
            continue
        line.append(item)

    line = '\t'.join(line)
    return line