It gives Error E143 "Too many initialisers" once on row 1, twice on row 2, and thrice on row 3...

Hmmm. OK. How about another little test.

char key_tbl[][] =
{
    {  1,  2,  3,  4  },    // row 0
    {  5,  6,  7      },    // row 1
    {  8,  9, 10      },    // row 2
    { 11, 12, 13      },    // row 3
};

I expect that this will compile with the Tasking compiler. However, since the first row has more initializers than are actually desired (required) each additional row should be padded with 0's.

I'm not sure this level of presumption by the compiler is appropriate. It is certainly one (of many) ways to handle such a situation. However, I think a more restrictive interpretation of the source code is better--it forces the author to state specifically what he means rather than force the compiler to make assumptions.

Jon