getVariable

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Description

Description:
Returns the value of variable in the variable space assigned to various data types. All available data types combinations:
Primary syntax (String) Alternative syntax (Array)
Code Since Code Since
Namespace getVariable String - Namespace getVariable Array Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead v1.60
Object getVariable String - Object getVariable Array -
Group getVariable String - Group getVariable Array -
Team Member getVariable String - Team Member getVariable Array -
Task getVariable String - Task getVariable Array Arma 3 v1.68
Location getVariable String - Location getVariable Array Arma 3 v1.68
Control getVariable String - Control getVariable Array Arma 3 v1.56
Display getVariable String Arma 3 v1.56 Display getVariable Array Arma 3 v1.56
When variable is set on a Task, it is not actually set on the task itself, but on the FSM attached to the task.
If there is no FSM, getVariable will not work.
Arma 3
In the case of Alt Syntax usage in Arma 3, defaultValue will be returned if:
  • Requested variable is either undefined or nil
  • Variable namespace is null (objNull, grpNull, etc.)
Groups:
VariablesNamespacesMultiplayer

Syntax

Syntax:
varspace getVariable name
Parameters:
varspace: Namespace, Object, Display, Control, Group, Location, Task, Team Member, Display, Control
name: String - variable name in given namespace
Return Value:
Anything or Nothing if the variable doesn't exist

Alternative Syntax

Syntax:
varspace getVariable [name, defaultValue]
Parameters:
varspace: Namespace, Object, Display, Control, Group, Location, Task, Team Member, Display, Control
name: String - variable name in given namespace
defaultValue: Anything - value to return if variable doesn't exist
A dynamic defaultValue e.g random 500 will always be executed, even if the variable is defined.
Return Value:
Anything - current value of the variable or defaultValue if the variable doesn't exist.

Examples

Example 1:
private _variable = myTruck getVariable "myVariable"; // returns nil if "myVariable" is not set
Example 2:
private _variable = myTruck getVariable ["myVariable", 50]; // returns 50 if "myVariable" is not set
Example 3:
for "_i" from 0 to 5 do { _car = missionNamespace getVariable ("car" + str _i); _car setDamage 0; }; // Set damage of car0..car5 to 0
Example 4:
myMissionVar = 2015; missionNamespace getVariable "myMissionVar"; // returns 2015
Example 5:
Get current value of a variable and if it is undefined, define it and get the defined value:
private _var = missionNamespace getVariable "varName"; if (isNil "_var") then { missionNamespace setVariable ["varName", 123]; _var = 123; }; // _var here will contain current value of the variable varName

Additional Information

See also:
setVariable allVariables getFSMVariable

Notes

Report bugs on the Feedback Tracker and/or discuss them on the Arma Discord or on the Forums.
Only post proven facts here! Add Note
Ebay - c
Posted on Aug 13, 2016 - 17:13 (UTC)
NOTE: Arma 2 only! In Arma 3 this will return default value: Warning: the alternative syntax returns undefined when the namespace is an object and that object is null. Example:
_test = objNull getVariable ["test", "0"]; systemChat _test;
Errors because _test is undefined. Tested in Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead 1.63.131129
AgentRev - c
Posted on Aug 31, 2017 - 03:29 (UTC)
You can do typechecking using param:
private _myVar = [player getVariable "myVar"] param [0, "", [""]];
and params:
[player getVariable "myVar"] params [["_myVar", "", [""]]];