TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

Games written in Inform, Glulx, TADS, CAT, HUGO and similar. Pleas for help, puzzles, bug reports etc.

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catventure
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#76 Post by 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/
TAB is an offline, downloadable, parser-based retro text adventure/interactive creator for Windows XP and above.
It is similar to popular 80's adventure creators like QUILL, PAW, STAC or GAC.
http://tab.thinbasic.com/
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catventure
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#77 Post by catventure »

https://caad.club/parser-tab-2/
A recent article of TAB in the Spanish club magazine CAAD.
TAB is an offline, downloadable, parser-based retro text adventure/interactive creator for Windows XP and above.
It is similar to popular 80's adventure creators like QUILL, PAW, STAC or GAC.
http://tab.thinbasic.com/
User avatar
catventure
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#78 Post by catventure »

There is also the 3 graphicbox split-screen version 71 :D

Image
TAB is an offline, downloadable, parser-based retro text adventure/interactive creator for Windows XP and above.
It is similar to popular 80's adventure creators like QUILL, PAW, STAC or GAC.
http://tab.thinbasic.com/
User avatar
catventure
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#79 Post by catventure »

A screenshot of the text only version of TAB Player.

Image
TAB is an offline, downloadable, parser-based retro text adventure/interactive creator for Windows XP and above.
It is similar to popular 80's adventure creators like QUILL, PAW, STAC or GAC.
http://tab.thinbasic.com/
User avatar
catventure
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#80 Post by 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.
TAB is an offline, downloadable, parser-based retro text adventure/interactive creator for Windows XP and above.
It is similar to popular 80's adventure creators like QUILL, PAW, STAC or GAC.
http://tab.thinbasic.com/
User avatar
catventure
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#81 Post by catventure »

The annual PARSERCOMP Interactive Fiction jam webpage.

https://itch.io/jam/parsercomp-2024
TAB is an offline, downloadable, parser-based retro text adventure/interactive creator for Windows XP and above.
It is similar to popular 80's adventure creators like QUILL, PAW, STAC or GAC.
http://tab.thinbasic.com/
User avatar
catventure
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#82 Post by catventure »

TAB is an offline, downloadable, parser-based retro text adventure/interactive creator for Windows XP and above.
It is similar to popular 80's adventure creators like QUILL, PAW, STAC or GAC.
http://tab.thinbasic.com/
User avatar
catventure
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#83 Post by 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.
TAB is an offline, downloadable, parser-based retro text adventure/interactive creator for Windows XP and above.
It is similar to popular 80's adventure creators like QUILL, PAW, STAC or GAC.
http://tab.thinbasic.com/
User avatar
catventure
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#84 Post by 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.
TAB is an offline, downloadable, parser-based retro text adventure/interactive creator for Windows XP and above.
It is similar to popular 80's adventure creators like QUILL, PAW, STAC or GAC.
http://tab.thinbasic.com/
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