Abaco Tutorial

This document is a quick tutorial of Abaco´s basic tools.


Running Abaco

To execute the system just execute the following command in the shell (or command prompt):

$ java -jar abaco.jar

In some graphical user interface, you need just to click (or double-click) on the "abaco.jar" file icon.


Creating a Simple Action

  1. Choose the menu option "File/New/ActionEditor (Version 1)". An "Action Editor" window will open.


  2. Type a simple action like: |give 4 and |give 5
  3. Now you may either Interpret or Debug this action. To interpret this action choose the option "Tools/Interpret Action" in the menu or just hit ALT+I. Make sure that the window where you typed the action is the current window. A "Result" window will open showing the final results of the action.


  4. To see a step-by-step performance of the action select the Action Editor window with your action. Then choose the menu option "Tools/Debug Action" or hit ALT+D. An "Action Debugger" window will open. Click in the button "Step" repeatedly to perform the action.

Editing A Specification

  1. Open the project "languages.prj" (distributed with the Abaco). In this project there are many specifications. Some of them are important for the Action Interpreter and should not be removed. Others specifications are examples of languages specifications and can be changed or removed if you want.


  2. Expand the tree of "microPascal" specification. There are separeted specifications describing Semantic Functions, Abstract Sysntax and Semantic Entities of microPascal. There is also an separeted specification with some programs in microPascal.


  3. Single-click in "microPascal/Programs" (in the left window) to open a window with some simple programs. You may edit these programs or create another one if you want.


  4. To compile, choose the option "Run/Compile" in the menu or double-click in the specification "microPascal/Programs" in the left window. If the compilation was not OK, you must correct the errors in the specification before going on in this tutorial.


  5. After the compilation a "Console" window will open. In this windows you may evaluate semantic functions of microPascal. To evaluate the microPascal program named "Assignment", type "run Assignment" and click in the button "Execute". The action-program of "Assignment" will be shown in the same window.


  6. If you want to interpret this action-program, you have to copy the content of the Console window and paste it in an "Action Editor" window (See section Creating a Simple Action).