Tabula programming tool

Tabula is a tool that allows you to very easily specify, design and program sequential machine controls. It comes into its own in those applications where the controller must respond to external events and generate actions that depend on those events and on past history. That describes 95% of machine control applications, so chances are, if you need to program machine controls, you will find Tabula makes it extremely easy.

Sample Tabula screen. Don't worry, all shall be revealed!

Features

• Simple table-based representation of sequential logic using Event-Action concept;
• Automatic code generation: Reduces the amount of code you must write by up to 90%;
• Detects common logical mistakes;
• Supports timeouts. The number of timers is limited only by RAM. Timing code is generated automatically;
• Full support for MultiTrack, our easy to use multitasking system;
• Simulation, for testing your logic;
• Supports multi-file projects using Builder, with automatic generation and versatile editing and management of Builder scripts.

YouTube movie

For a very brief overview of Tabula as a specification and design tool, see this YouTube movie. Take a few minutes to watch that before diving in.

Getting the most out of Tabula (using this documentation)

This SPLat Knowledge Base documentation has been designed as a combination tutorial and reference document. You will get the most out of it if you initially work through it from the beginning, replicating each of the steps. So click here to go to the Tabula download page and get your copy. It's free.

Tabula has been deliberately designed to make it as easy as possible to learn. For this reason some of the advanced functionality is not immediately visible when you launch Tabula. This avoids the screen clutter that might be confusing when you are first starting out.

Required skill level if you want to make simple SPLat programs

• A need and desire to create programs for a SPLat controller that perform sequential actions triggered by external events.
• Knowledge of a minimum of SPLat programming instructions. In fact, you can make a useful program with just 5 instructions: Input, NOT, InputK, On and Off
• The ability to use SPLat/PC

Required skill level if you want to make sophisticated SPLat programs

• The above, plus:
• A willingness to knuckle down and study and learn.
• A good knowledge of the SPLat instruction set. That doesn't mean you have to know all 450+ instructions (even inhouse we have to look up instructions!). It means you should be aware of the range of functionality provided for.
• A proper understanding of MultiTrack.

Required skill level if you just want to design/specify logical Event-Action sequences

• A need for a tool that will assist in designing the logic of a controller that performs sequential actions triggered by external events Tabula is a specification/design tool as well as a programming tool. It allows you to express things that can get very messy in straight-down-the-page English.
• A willingness to spend a few hours learning a tool that could save you hours and untold grief.