TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

[catventure]

21 Aug 2023 (Release 71)
====================
*UPDATED System Message 48 has been expanded to include text customisation of TAB game window menu bar items. (useful for other language and translation purposes)

If using a database created with prior version 70 then to make compatible before running it will be necessary to add menu text items [43] to [52] to the System Message 48 list - as shown in the "default database" in this version 71 otherwise the menu bar items will not appear in the TAB Player game window.

*NEW Split-Screen Graphic/Text version. Replaces previous horizontal graphics version.

*NEW "lock" and "unlock" actions in graphics versions of TAB to disable/enable window resizing in the TAB game window.

http://tab.thinbasic.com/

[catventure]

https://caad.club/parser-tab-2/
A recent article of TAB in the Spanish club magazine CAAD.

[catventure]

There is also the 3 graphicbox split-screen version 71

[catventure]

A screenshot of the text only version of TAB Player.

[catventure]

Season's Greetings and Happy New Year 2024 to all text adventurers!

Just a reminder that I made an online instruction QUICK TUTORIAL for a "TAB for Windows" text adventure example game in case anyone fancies trying it out over the hols.

http://tab.thinbasic.com/QuickTutorial.html

(However, it is also included in the TAB download)

Best wishes,
catventure.

[catventure]

The annual PARSERCOMP Interactive Fiction jam webpage.

https://itch.io/jam/parsercomp-2024

[catventure]

There's a TAB page on the IFwiki

https://www.ifwiki.org/ThinBASIC_Adventure_Builder

[catventure]

Here is a demovid about implementing a game "clock" using flags in a TAB for Windows text adventure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vGT04pyWpo

Check out the coding needed and entries required by downloading the TAB text version program and load the "Clock.tab" demo database into the TAB Editor.

Regards,
catventure.

[catventure]

Here's what I found Google AI says about TAB.


AI Overview

ThinBASIC Adventure Builder (T.A.B.) is a free, offline text adventure creator for Windows XP and above. It's designed to be a retro-style interactive fiction authoring tool, similar to earlier programs like QUILL, GAC or PAW. T.A.B. consists of an editor for constructing adventures, a player for testing, and a system for creating standalone executable games.

Key Features of ThinBASIC Adventure Builder (T.A.B.):

Authoring:
T.A.B. provides tools for creating the structure, content, and logic of a text adventure.

Player:
It includes a player to test and experience the games you've created.

Standalone Executables:
You can create standalone executable files of your adventures, allowing players to run them without needing T.A.B.

Retrospective Design:
T.A.B. is designed to evoke the style and mechanics of older text adventure programs.

Parser-based:
It uses an advanced parser to interpret player commands and actions within the adventure.

Database, Interpreter, and Parser:
T.A.B. operates with a database to store adventure data, an interpreter to process commands, and a parser to analyze player input.

Editor and Player:
You use the editor to construct the adventure, and the player to test it.

Response and Script Editors:
T.A.B. uses Response and Script editors to handle player input and actions within the game.

Standalone Executables:
You can compile your adventures into standalone executable files for distribution.

"default.tab" file:
A template adventure file that provides a starting point for your own games.

Community and support:
There's a community forum where you can find help and share your creations.

How to get started with T.A.B.:
1. Download T.A.B.:
You can download the T.A.B. program (text-only version) from the https://catventure.itch.io/ website.
2. Unzip and launch the editor:
After downloading, unzip the archive and launch the TAB_Editor.EXE program.
3. Open the default adventure:
Open the "default.tab" file in the editor to get started with a pre-built structure.
4. Learn the basics:
Start with the quick tutorial or watch the tutorial video on the TAB itch.io page.
5. Start creating:
Begin defining locations, objects, and game logic using the editor.

Regards,
catventure.

[catventure]

Here are links to TAB documentation.

An html quick tutorial is included. You can read the tutorial here: http://tab.thinbasic.com/QuickTutorial.html

A USERGUIDE is included. READ THE USERGUIDE: http://tab.thinbasic.com/USERGUIDE.txt

A condition/action coding language doc is included. READ IT http://tab.thinbasic.com/LANGUAGE.txt

Regards,
catventure.

[catventure]

TAB is a retro-style, parser-based tool similar to 1980s systems like The Quill or PAW—easy for beginners, no traditional programming required beyond simple IF-style rules.

1. Download and Setup
Head to the itch.io page: https://catventure.itch.io/tab

Download the latest version (e.g., TAB V71 - TEXT ONLY VERSION for simplicity, ~2.1 MB). There are also graphic versions if you want images later.
Unzip the folder anywhere on your Windows PC (works on XP and newer; 32/64-bit)

Important: Some antivirus programs flag the .exe files as false positives—add an exception if needed.

Run TAB_Editor. exe

2. Start a New Adventure (Using the Template) In TAB Editor, from the main menu, click Open Adventure.

Go to the "ADVENTURE GAMES TO PLAY" folder (included in the download) and open default.tab This gives you a ready template with basic vocabulary (N/S/E/W, TAKE, DROP, etc.), standard system messages (e.g., "You can't go that way"), and some starter entries.

Immediately go to File > Save Adventure As... and save it with a new name (e.g., myfirst.tab). This avoids overwriting the template.
Optional: Click the Tooltips button to turn them On—they explain fields as you hover.

3. Set Basic Game Settings. Click Game Settings Editor.
Key fields to change:Window Title: e.g., "My First Adventure by [Your Name]"
Display Mode: 1 (text-only for starters)
Player Strength: 7–10 (max weight you can carry)
Carryable: 5–10 (max items at once)
Start Location: Usually 1
Colors: Optional (foreground/background)

Click OK to save and return to main menu.

4. Create Locations (Rooms) Click Locations Editor.
Location numbers start at 1.
For each:Text — Full description (what shows on LOOK).
Brief — Short name (shown in room header or inventory context).
Exits — Set directions (N/S/E/W/Up/Down/etc.) to other location numbers (0 = blocked/no exit).

Example Loc 1:
Text: "You are standing at the entrance to a dark cave. A tunnel leads east."
Brief: "Cave Entrance"
Exits: East = 2

Loc 2:
Text: "You are in a small chamber."
Brief: "Small Chamber"
Exits: West = 1

Use the Find button or arrows to navigate entries.
Save often!

5. Add Objects. Click Objects Editor.
Each object has:Description (e.g., "a rusty sword")
Noun words (e.g., "/sword/blade/")
Start location (room number, or 0 = nowhere yet, or special like 502 for worn items)
Weight & Size (affect carrying)
Flags: Wearable? Container? etc.

Example:
Object 1: "a red apple"
Noun: "/apple/"
Start loc: 1
Weight: 1
Message (examine): "It looks delicious."

Vocabulary: In Vocabulary Editor, add extra verbs/nouns/prepositions or deletions (ignore words like "red" so "red apple" matches "apple").

6. Customize Messages. Click System Message Editor.
Change Introduction (shown at game start):
Example: "Welcome to My First Adventure! You awaken in a strange place..."
Other messages: "You are carrying:", "OK", etc.

7. Add Game Logic (The "Coding" Part)
This is the heart—using Response Editor (for player commands) and Script Editors (automatic/turn-based events)

Format for entries (all lowercase):

[start]words conditions#condition1#condition2[acts]action1#action2[end]

[start] — Trigger words (e.g., "take apple)
#conditions — Checks (e.g., #here1 = object 1 here, #carried1 = player has it, #absent1 = player doesn't, #flag1=0 = flag state)
[acts] — Do things (e.g., create1 = make object appear, destroy1 = remove, cmess = print message, score+10, flag1=1)
#done — Stop processing further (optional but useful)

Simple example to add in Response Editor

eat apple (if you added one):

[start]eat apple#here1[acts]destroy1#cmessCrunchy and sweet![end]

For events that run every turn (e.g., timers, random happenings), use Script 1 or Script 2 editors.

8. Test and Build
From main menu, click Test Adventure — launches in TAB Player.
Type commands: n/s/e/w, look, take coin, inventory, examine apple, quit.
Debug: Fix typos, add missing conditions (e.g., can't take if not here).
When happy make a standalone .exe with TAB Player runtime (distributable—no editor needed).

Tips & Next Steps
Start tiny: 3–5 rooms, 2–3 objects, a couple puzzles (e.g., find key → open chest → win).
Read LANGUAGE.txt for all ~200 conditions/actions (e.g., #charpresent, #random, openobj, play sound).

Check demos in the zip for real examples.
If stuck, the quick tutorial has a full "Sacred Quest of Dragoria" example with digging, giving items to NPCs, flags, etc.

Have fun—your first adventure can be playable in under an HOUR!

The program itself — the editor and interpreter/runtime — is written in thinBasic, which is a modern, interpreted BASIC-like programming language designed for Windows.

For actually creating games in ThinBASIC Adventure Builder, you don't write thinBasic code directly. Instead, TAB uses its own built-in, simplified condition/action system (sometimes described as a "condition/action 'language'"):You define locations, objects, synonyms, messages, etc., mostly through a graphical IDE/editor interface.

The "coding" part happens when you set up parser responses and game logic using IF...THEN-style conditional rules.

These are entered in a structured, somewhat BASIC-resembling format.

It's designed to feel approachable and retro — more like filling in a form or scripting simple rules than full programming — while still allowing quite complex adventures. (including optional graphics, sound/music)
The adventures you build are compiled/exported into standalone Windows .exe files using the TAB Player Runtime. (also thinBasic-based)

It's a niche, hobbyist tool rather than a mainstream IF authoring system but remains easy to use with a fast learning curve.