Scripting First Steps – Arma Reforger

Welcome to Enforce Script! This guide will get you writing and testing your first lines of code in 5 minutes.

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This is a hands-on quick start. Skip the theory, start coding immediately!

Requirements

Arma Reforger Tools (Arma Reforger Workbench) installed via Steam
That's it!

Open Workbench and Remote Console

Launch Enfusion Workbench from Steam (Arma Reforger Tools)
Click on the Script Editor icon or select it from the menu

Launch Script Editor from Workbench
If the Remote Console window is not visible, open it from the menu
Click on the Remote Console and Output tabs at the bottom to switch to the appropriate view

Script Editor default UI - click the tabs at the bottom

Script Editor with Remote Console and Output panels visible
You are ready to start coding!

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For these basic exercises, you do not need to load a world or run the game. The Remote Console can execute simple code directly.

First Line of Code

Type the following in the Remote Console and click the Run button at the top of the remote console panel:

The Print method prints (as its name states) the provided arguments into the log console:

Print("Hello there!"); // displays "Hello there!" in the log console

You did it! You just wrote your first Enforce Script code. The text appears in the console output.

PrintFormat allows for printing a string with arguments:

PrintFormat("Hello %1, welcome to %2!", "there", "Arma Reforger"); // %1 is replaced by "there" (the first argument), %2 by "Arma Reforger PrintFormat("Hello %1, welcome to %2!", "you", "Enfusion"); // result here is "Hello you, welcome to Enfusion!"

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A percent sign is printed without issue using Print, however it requires to be doubled with PrintFormat, being a special character to this function:

Print("5%"); // prints "5%" Print("%%"); // prints "%%" PrintFormat("%1", 5); // prints "5" PrintFormat("5%"); // prints "5" PrintFormat("5%%"); // prints "5%" PrintFormat("%1%%", 5); // prints "5%"

Basic Maths

Try these commands one by one in the Remote Console:

Print(10 + 5); Print(20 * 3); Print(100 / 4);

The console shows: 15, 60, 25.

Variables

Variables let you store and reuse values:

int myAge = 25; Print("I am " + myAge + " years old");

Try changing the number and run it again!

Common variable types:

int - whole numbers (1, 42, -5)
float - decimal numbers (3.14, 10.5)
string - text ("Hello", "Arma")
bool - true or false

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For a complete list of all data types, see Scripting Values.

float distance = 150.5; string playerName = "Soldier"; PrintFormat("%1 is at %2m", playerName, distance);

Decisions

int health = 75; if (health > 50) Print("Healthy!"); else Print("Need medical attention");

Try changing health to different numbers!

Arrays

Arrays can be seen as lists that store naught to multiple values of the same type:

array<string> soldiers = { "Alpha", "Bravo", "Charlie" }; Print(soldiers[0]); // Prints "Alpha" Print(soldiers[1]); // Prints "Bravo" soldiers.Insert("Delta"); // soldiers is now { "Alpha", "Bravo", "Charlie", "Delta" } Print("Squad size: " + soldiers.Count()); // Squad size: 4

Loops

For

A for loop repeats instructions a specific number of times:

for (int i; i < 5; i++) { Print("Count: " + i); // prints ("Count: ") 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 then leaves (i < 5) }

Foreach

A foreach loop goes through all array items:

array<string> weapons = { "Rifle", "Pistol", "Grenade" }; foreach (string weapon : weapons) { Print("Weapon: " + weapon); // prints "Rifle", "Pistol", "Grenade" }

The index can also be obtained this way:

foreach (int i, string weapon : weapons)

A First Mini-Program

Combine what you learned! Copy this entire block and run it:

// Soldier health checker array<string> soldierNames = { "Alpha", "Bravo", "Charlie", "Delta" }; array<int> healthValues = { 100, 45, 80, 20 }; Print("=== Squad Status Report ==="); foreach (int i, string soldierName : soldierNames) { int health = healthValues[i]; if (health > 70) PrintFormat("%1: Healthy (%2%%)", soldierName, health); else if (health > 30) PrintFormat("%1: Injured (%2%%)", soldierName, health); else PrintFormat("%1: Critical! (%2%%)", soldierName, health); } Print("=== End of Report ===");

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Lines starting with // are comments - they are ignored by the code but help explain what is happening.

Quick Reference Card

Category	Code	Description
Output	Print("text");	Shows text in console
Variables	int number = 42;	Stores a whole number
	float decimal = 3.14;	Stores a decimal number
	string text = "Hi";	Stores text
	bool flag = true;	Stores true/false
Arrays	array<int> numbers = { 1, 2, 3 };	Creates a list
	myArray.Insert(value);	Adds item to list
	myArray.Count();	Gets list size
If/Else	if (condition) { }	Do something if true
If/Else	else { }	Do something if false
Loops	for (int i; i < 10; i++) { }	Repeat 10 times
Loops	foreach (int item : myArray) { }	Execute for each item
Math	+	Add
	-	Subtract
	*	Multiply
	/	Divide
Compare	==	Equal to
	!=	Not equal to
	>	Greater than
	<	Less than
	>=	Greater or equal
	<=	Less or equal

Common Mistakes

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
print("hello")	Print("hello")	Capital P in Print
int x = 5	int x = 5;	Missing semicolon
if (x = 5)	if (x == 5)	Use == for comparison, = for assignment
int firstElement = myArray[1];	int firstElement = myArray[0];	Arrays start at 0, not 1
string name = John	string name = "John"	Text needs quotes

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Follow professional coding standards: Scripting Conventions.

Exercises

The following challenges help in practicing and understanding scripting.

Temperature Converter

Create a program that converts 25°C to Fahrenheit.

// Convert Celsius to Fahrenheit float celsius = 25; float fahrenheit = (celsius * 9 / 5) + 32; PrintFormat("%1°C = %2°F", celsius, fahrenheit);

Countdown

Create a countdown from 10 to 0, then print "Launch!".

// Count down from 10 to 0 for (int i = 10; i >= 0; i--) { Print(i); } Print("Launch!");

Squad Filter

Print only the soldiers with health above 50 from two arrays (names and health values).

// Only print soldiers with health above 50 array<string> names = { "Alpha", "Bravo", "Charlie" }; array<int> health = { 80, 30, 90 }; foreach (int i, string name : names) { if (health[i] > 50) Print(name + " is combat ready"); }

Troubleshooting

Console will not open?

Make sure the Script Editor is opened in Workbench
Look for the Remote Console panel - if hidden, open it from the menu
Ensure Workbench is properly installed via Steam (Arma Reforger Tools)

Code does not work?

Check for missing semicolons ;
Make sure quotes match: "text"
Check spelling and capitalisation (casing matters: print("ok"); is different from Print("ok");)
Look for error messages in red

Getting errors?

Read the error message - it often tells you what is wrong
Click the error message and check reported line number(s)
Make sure all open brackets { } are closed