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
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#46 Post by catventure » Mon Jan 25, 2021 4:27 pm

Today I updated the TAB adventure creator program diagnostics window panel to be more functional.
http://tab.thinbasic.com

25 Jan 2021 (Release 68)
=========
*UPDATED: When user enters "dx" into the Editor version of Player to invoke Diagnostics the panel now remains in view until the new [EXIT] button is pressed. This allows changes to be set to values of flags, room, object locations, weights, character locations etc. before returning to the game being tested.

Image

Regards,
catventure/Phil.
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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auraes
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#47 Post by auraes » Mon Jan 25, 2021 8:25 pm

I'll have to find time to do a little something with your software. That sounds very nice. I guess it's not afraid of accented characters for typing and displaying.
A little typo by the way: in Language.txt, "ALL CONDITIONS CAN BE PRECEDED BY THE PREFIX "_or" TO CAUSE TAB TO GO INTO OR-CHECKING MODE."
I'm guessing that's 'or_' and not '_or'.

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catventure
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#48 Post by catventure » Tue Jan 26, 2021 11:57 am

Thanks auraes,

Yes you are right. :thumb:

or_

I will get it corrected in both 'language.txt' and also 'userguide.txt' too!

ascii codes, accented characters, symbols and extended characters:
https://theasciicode.com.ar/

Regards,
catventure/Phil.
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
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#49 Post by catventure » Wed Jan 27, 2021 2:34 pm

Hi auraes,

The corrections are done (+ small bugfix to diagnostics panel)
Uploaded to TAB site.

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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catventure
Posts: 103
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#50 Post by catventure » Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:22 pm

Hi All,

I had thought of entering the Adventuron Jam with a TAB game but was recently rocked by a family death so never got around to it.
Might have a go at the ParserComp 2021 which starts in June though, if I can finish the game I'm working on in time...

It's very quiet on the TAB adventure front lately. People are electing to use other creators like Adventuron, DAAD and making 8-bit compatible games and ones that will run in a browser or phone or going for choice based narrative type MCA's (multiple choice adventures) such as those made with TWINE etc.

Perhaps there's not so much interest any more in making Windows-specific games for people to play.

The TAB is an offline parser-based creator, based on the QUILL/PAW principles but quite powerful because of the extended condacts and, of course, it is my engine of choice if I wish to build an IF game, because I find it so much easier to use.

However, I don't know of ANYONE, apart from myself of course, who might be using TAB right now to create a game.
I made some improvements to it earlier in the year which are proving very handy and useful and updated the start tutorial.

Maybe I should also think about holding or organising a TAB-only adventure jam/competition as well? Might be fun and interesting to see if there are any souls who would consider joining in and trying out the software by devising a small game using it??

I really would like to produce a great game with lots of user friendly responses as I believe it would showcase the TAB to good effect in the community.

Time goes fast and I'm getting older. I'm a pensioner now. I will continue to support the program and provide help and contact with user questions and coding enquiries and whatnot while the program is still alive - I don't really want to abandon or close down the TAB project and I will continue to give it my time unless there comes a point when nothing is happening or the feedback stops completely or it outgrows its usefulness or ceases to become a viable choice for making IF.

You can check out the TAB program at http://tab.thinbasic.com/

There is a link there to the old TAB forum as well where you can get a flavour of the TAB discussion which thrived there at one point in time - but I guess things have moved on a bit since then?

Happy Spring and Good Adventuring to you all.
catventure(Phil)
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: 103
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Location: UK
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#51 Post by catventure » Sat Mar 27, 2021 2:15 pm

Hello,

A minor update to v68 released today. (compatible with previous version)

27 Mar 2021 (Release 68)
=========
*NEW Vocabulary Editor has its own [View] button to show the Vocabulary in a TAB Viewer.
*IMPROVED The TAB Viewer windows now allow access to Editor.
*IMPROVED Multiple Instances of TAB Viewer window are now allowed. Any TAB Viewers open when the Editor is closed are automatically closed.
*IMPROVED Diagnostic Window now allows access to Game window. Diagnostics window will automatically be closed if it is open when Game window is exited.
*ADDED a menu option to The TAB Viewer to view Character Responses coding.
*FIXED BUG The 'examall' action was not working properly on Objects greater than 100. Fixed.
*IMPROVED The Vocabulary Editor does not now delete text from EditBox after an "Invalid Vocabulary Syntax" error dialog report.

catventure(Phil)
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: 103
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
Contact:

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#52 Post by catventure » Fri Apr 02, 2021 12:54 pm

A minor update to TAB v68 today.

Release 68 (02 Apr 2021)
========
*Some tweaks, improves, checks and code cleaning to:
quicksave/quickload, undo, load/save, turns.

You can download it from usual link:
http://tab.thinbasic.com/

Happy Easter weekend to all adventurers!

catventure. (Phil)
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: 103
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 am
Location: UK
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#53 Post by catventure » Sat Apr 10, 2021 10:57 am

Hi,

Any Windows XP users tried TAB? I got a report on my itch.io page from an XP user today that the TAB Player/Editor does not close properly when exiting the window via the [x] close button in the top right of the window titlebar. Apparently, the messagebox with "Really Exit?" appears as it should but when the user presses "Y" instead of closing, an error dialog pops up stating: "TAB Player has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."
However, the TAB window is closing normally on Vista and above. Could any XP users please let me know if the window closes normally or you get the same error dialog behaviour too? Thank you for your cooperation.

http://tab.thinbasic.com/

Regards,
catventure/Phil.
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/

Keetie
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Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 10:16 pm

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#54 Post by Keetie » Sat Apr 10, 2021 4:18 pm

Yes, I got the same error with XP. But when you want to know what's wrong there is no report given.

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catventure
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#55 Post by catventure » Sat Apr 10, 2021 4:44 pm

Hi Keetie,

How did you deal with this problem? Are you able to close the window and end the program OK if you respond to the error dialog?
I don't have Win XP so cannot try it.
Any more information would be very helpful. Thanks.
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/

Keetie
Posts: 40
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2011 10:16 pm

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#56 Post by Keetie » Sat Apr 10, 2021 6:36 pm

Hello too,

First TAB closes, than an error window appears, which closes too when pressing the x at the right.

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catventure
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#57 Post by catventure » Sun Dec 12, 2021 3:44 pm

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all text adventure and interactive fiction game authors and players!
Yuletide greetings and Seasonal cheer to you all! :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR-AueUxy8M
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/

Alastair
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Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:21 am

Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#58 Post by Alastair » Sun Dec 12, 2021 10:14 pm

And a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! 😺 (the nearest I could find to a winking tabby)

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catventure
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#59 Post by catventure » Wed Mar 16, 2022 11:37 am

Hi,

I posted a minor update to the TAB Adventure writing system on 15 Mar 2022.
http://tab.thinbasic.com

The online tutorial was updated also:
http://tab.thinbasic.com/QuickTutorial.html

Regards,
catventure/Phil.
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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auraes
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Re: TAB - Windows IF/Text Adventure Maker

#60 Post by auraes » Tue Mar 22, 2022 8:26 am

Your USERGUIDE.txt file uses special characters (‘ ¯ “) that may cause problems when opening it. If you do not want to save it in UTF-8, propose a version USERGUIDE_UTF-8.txt.

You also use the grave accent (`) instead of the single quote ('), but you may have good reasons for this.
The use of (¯) character in the code is a wrong thing. The characters in the code should not use exotic characters, and should be limited to the characters '0' to '9', 'a' to 'z', 'A' to 'Z' and '_' (except for character strings).
These accents problems bother me, but they are more due to MS Windows than to you.

I seem to be grumbling a bit, but I just tried the software, and I don't understand why ">aller est" (>go east) works, and ">est" (>east) doesn't. I must have broken something.
(I chose the words "grumbling" and "bother" suggested by DeepL among many others, I hope it fits!)

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