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=Introduction =
{{TOC|side|0.9}}
The PreProcessor and the Config Parser allow to use macros in configs. The purpose of macros is to re-use the same definition in scripts and configs multiple times.
It also gives a centralized place to correct errors in this definition.
Know that edge cases may arise - see the collection of test-cases linked at the end of this page.
{{Feature|arma3|In {{arma3}}, preprocessor commands are '''case-sensitive!'''}}




Preprocessor commands refer to the C(++) syntax used by the engine to, well, 'pre process' the text inside a config.cpp, mission.sqm, description.ext.
== Parsing ==


In fact, preprocessor commands (can) apply to '''any''' ofp text file containing class statements, since these 'statements' are scrunched by the engine's internal C processor.
See {{Link|#Config Parser}} below:
* '''[[Config.cpp]]''' - parsed when PBO is binarized.
** [[localize]] cannot be used in macros, as it would hardcode string of current language instead of creating reference.
* '''[[Description.ext]]''' - parsed when mission is loaded or previewed in missions list.
* '''[[SQF Syntax|SQF]] script''' - parsed when [[preprocessFile]], [[preprocessFileLineNumbers]], [[compileScript]] or [[execVM]] is used.


The majority use however is in addons, and specifically, the config.cpp of the addon.


There are six preprocessor commands recognized by the OFP and ArmA engine:
== Macros ==


#include
=== Comments ===
#define
#undef
#ifdef
#ifndef
#endif


Besides of commands, inside of defines it is possible to use token concatenation operator ## and stringize operator #.
A comment is a line within code that is not actually processed by the game engine. They are used to make code more readable or to add notes for future reference.
The preprocessor removes all comments from the file before it is processed. Therefore, comments are never actually "seen" by the game engine.
{{Feature|warning|Sometimes a problematic string can fail to purge these comment outs during preprocessing!
<sqf>private _a = '"';
// this is just a comment, but failed to remove upon the preprocess so will return an error. Caused by that string</sqf>}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
// this is a single-line comment
/*
this is a
multi-line
comment
*/
myValue = something; // only this part of the line is commented out


==Note for experienced users==
myArray = { "apple"/*, "banana"*/, "pear" }; // a portion in the middle of this line is commented out
</syntaxhighlight>


The preprocessor mimics a subset of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C_preprocessor C preprocessor]. While basic functionality is similar, the preprocessor is not fully C-conformant, as order of substitution of arguments in macro invocation is different than in C, which means some intricate nested macro constructs, esp. when using token concatenation operator, may produce different results than in C.
=== #define ===


= Preprocessor commands =
Using the {{hl|#define}} instruction, it is possible to define a keyword and assign a definition to it.
The keyword may contain any letter, digit or underscore in arbitrary order, as long as it does not start with a digit (RegEx: {{hl|[a-zA-Z_][0-9a-zA-Z_]*}}).
As an example:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define true 1
</syntaxhighlight>


==#include==
The above means that whenever ''true'' is used in a config, the parser will replace this with the value ''1''.


Syntax
The define-statement does swallow all spaces in between the macro-keyword and any non-space-character in the body (Note that tabs are not spaces! They don't get removed)
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define MACRO                    test
MACRO // preprocesses to test (without any spaces)


#include <PathAndFileName> // '''note''' no semicolon
#define MACRO test // There's a tab between MACRO and test
#include "PathAndFileName" // mutually the same.
MACRO // preprocesses to " test" (without quotes - they are only used to show that the tab character didn't get removed)
</syntaxhighlight>


The base purpose of this statement is to wedge in further statements into the current body of text. The reason for doing so, in ofp at least, is artistry. To break up one large confusing text many many pages long, into manageable chunks.
The space between the macro-keyword and the body is also fully optional (though very useful to tell the preprocessor where the macro name ends and where the body begins):
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define MACRO#test
MACRO // preprocesses to "test"
</syntaxhighlight>


The amount of 'chunks', ie, the number of included files, is solely dependent on how the author feels about it. In general, they will put similar elements together. All icons, all bulidings (versus trees) all cars (versus men) and so on. It is particularly common in vintage addons (people who have had some years in creating them) to put base charactersics of all the 'models' in one, base file, and then attach it to flavours of that base. Ie a base man with kahki trousers as standard included in files that change the trousers to pink, and so on. Ie, the base characterstics of the model, are NOT in the 'main' body of text as it's noisy and hardly worth looking at. A better example is one of weapons. Irrespective of the several addons made, they '''all''' include this one, weapon file, since they '''all''' will use AK47's with tangerine hand grenades with yellow spots. If some use M16's, no matter, you can be _certain_ an M16 is _also_ described in this base, weapon file, #included in all other files that need acces to M16's!
==== Arguments ====
Arguments can be added to more complex macros, by including them between brackets after the keyword. For the name of the arguments the same rule as for the macro-keyword (see above) apply.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define CAR(NAME) displayName = NAME;
</syntaxhighlight>


'''THE ENGINE DOES NOT CARE'''
If ''CAR("Mini")'' is used, it will be replaced with ''displayName = "Mini";''. Multiple arguments can also be used:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define BLASTOFF(UNIT,RATE) UNIT setVelocity [0,0,RATE];
</syntaxhighlight>


From the perspective of the engine, it is of <u>no consequence</u>. Effectively the engine processes '''all''' files as '''one''' file. '''All''' of the chunks, all of the 'wedges', all of the #included files are merged into one, single file, for the purpose of compiling. Of a certainty, irrespective of how many #included files, you only get ONE, config.bin. (Config.bin, is the resultant output of all this processing)
Macro arguments may be composed of any characters, as long as they do not contain a comma (because commas are used as argument-delimiters).
If quotes are being used, they have to be balanced.
The same applies to single-quotes; this is because String detection is working in macro arguments - therefore commas can even get passed in as a macro argument as long as they are part of a String (This only works with Strings wrapped in double-quotes though).
Note however that although the macro gets resolved properly, the comma gets removed from the String (probably a bug).
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define MACRO(arg) arg
MACRO("Some, content") // preprocesses to "Some content" (note the missing comma)
</syntaxhighlight>


Quote escaping is also not supported in this context (neither with double- nor with single-quotes)
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define MACRO(arg) arg
MACRO("Some ""content""") // preprocesses to "Some ""content"""
</syntaxhighlight>


Processing continues at the <u>beginning of the included file</u> until it's EOF. At which point, processing continues at the statement after the initial #include.
Passing arrays with more than one element {{hl|[el1,el2,...]}} as arguments into macros as well as any argument containing comas {{hl|"some, sentence"}}, will need a small workaround:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define HINTARG(ARG) hint ("Passed argument: " + str ARG)
</syntaxhighlight>


Thus, anything required by that included file (if anything at all), must have 'appeared' _before_ the include statement.
Incorrect usage:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
HINTARG([1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0]); // ERROR, won't even compile
</syntaxhighlight>


It is quite common, for included files, to have, #include statement(s) of their own.
Correct usage:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define array1 [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0]
HINTARG(array1); // SUCCESS
</syntaxhighlight>


Under this circumstance, processing continues at the beginning of _that_ included file, and so on.
The argument replacement is performed before the expansion of the macro body. That means one doesn't have to worry about name-conflicts between argument-names of the current macro and already defined macros:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define ONE foo
#define TWO(ONE) ONE
TWO(bar) // will preprocess to bar
</syntaxhighlight>


===Path name===
==== Replacing parts of words ====
By default, only whole words can be replaced by arguments. If only a part of the word should be replaced, use the {{hl|##}} instruction.
This is necessary when either the start or the end of the argument connects to another character that is not a {{hl|;}} (semi-colon) or {{hl|&nbsp;}} (space).
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
class NAME##_Button_Slider: RscText \
{ \
model = \OFP2\Structures\Various\##FOLDER##\##FOLDER; \
</syntaxhighlight>


Paths to files in OFP do '''not''' follow convention, or in some cases, logic.
It is also possible to use the single ''#'' to convert an argument to a string.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
statement = (this animate [#SEL, 0]); \
</syntaxhighlight>


The following is <u>specific</u> to the #include statement as applied by the engine. Do ''not'' attempt to use the following when utilising other file references (such as icons or models eg)
==== Multi-line ====
For longer definitions, one can stretch the macro across multiple lines. To create a multi-line definition, each line except the last one should end with a ''\'' character:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define DRAWBUTTON(NAME)\
__EXEC(idcNav = idcNav + 4) \
// ...
</syntaxhighlight>


#include "'''Any'''Addon\'''Any'''PathInTheAddon\SomeFile.SomeExtension"
{{Feature|informative|The backslash must be the last character in a line when defining a multi-line macro. Any character (including spaces) after the backslash will cause issues.}}


Take note that this is contrary to what you do with other file references.
=== #undef ===


There is NO preceeding backslash.
Undefine (delete) a macro previously set by the use of #define.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#undef NAME
</syntaxhighlight>


Also note, that there is no default extension. It's called, whatever you want to call it (if anything at all)
=== #if ===


==#define==
'''Description:''' Checks condition and processes content if condition returns 1. Skips content if it returns 0
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#if __GAME_VER_MAJ__ != 2
// Do something...
#endif
</syntaxhighlight>


For reasons lost in the mysts of Kernighan and Ritchie, this is referred to by the riduculous term 'macro'.
==== Comparison Operators ====
The following operations are supported:
* <
* >
* <=
* >=
* ==
* !=
'''Example:'''
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#if __GAME_VER_MAJ__ != 2
// Do something...
#endif
</syntaxhighlight>


It is a 'macro' in the same way macros are used in Microsoft word, it can expand into a (very large) sequence of keystrokes.
=== #ifdef ===


For the sensibly minded you can effectively 'see' #defines as
A simple if-then construction to check whether a certain set of definitions has already been made:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#ifdef NAME
// config that will be used if NAME is defined
#endif
</syntaxhighlight>


#define THIS  = THAT
IFDEFs ''cannot'' be nested. The preprocessor will generate errors for all inner definitions if the outer definition doesn't exist.


#define true  1
=== #ifndef ===
#define false 0


For the non- sensibly minded and insane, you can indeed expand this 'macro'
Same as #ifdef, but checks for absence of definition instead.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#ifndef NAME
// config that will be used if NAME is -not- defined
#endif
</syntaxhighlight>


#define ICONS(icn) icon=\SomeAddon\icons\##icn; \
=== #else ===
                    model=\SomeAddon\##icn.p3d; \
                    picture=\SomeAddon\##icn.paa


Then, using
Provides alternative code to {{hl|#if}}, {{hl|#ifdef}}, {{hl|#ifndef}} checks.
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
ICON(Peter);
#ifndef NAME
ICON(Fred);
// config that will be used if NAME is -not- defined
#else
// config that will be used if NAME -is- defined
#endif
</syntaxhighlight>


will expand into
=== #endif ===


icon=\SomeAddon\icons\Peter;
This ends a conditional block as shown in the descriptions of #ifdef and #ifndef above.
model=\SomeAddon\Peter.p3d;
 
picture=\SomeAddon\Peter.paa;
=== #include ===
icon=\SomeAddon\icons\Fred;
 
model=\SomeAddon\Fred.p3d;
Copies the code from a target file and pastes it where #include directive is.
picture=\SomeAddon\Fred.paa;
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#include "file.hpp"
#include <file.txt> // Brackets are equivalent to quotation marks and may be used in their place.
</syntaxhighlight>
 
Source directory is:
* For any file without starting the include path with \ - the file's current directory
* When starting with \ - the internal filesystem root (see [[CMA:DevelopmentSetup#Addon_development|Addon Development]]) or the Game's working directory (only with [[Arma 3: Startup Parameters|-filePatching]] enabled)
 
A path beginning can be defined as follow:
* drive (only with [[Arma 3: Startup Parameters|-filePatching]] enabled): <syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">#include "D:\file.txt"</syntaxhighlight>
* PBO with [[PBOPREFIX]]: <syntaxhighlight lang="cpp"> #include "\myMod\myAddon\file.txt"</syntaxhighlight>
* PBO (keep in mind that in this case, if the PBO's file name will be changed, all '#include' referencing it will need to be updated):<!--
--><syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">#include"\myMod\myAddon\file.txt" // Arma 3\@myMod\addons\myAddon.pbo\file.txt;</syntaxhighlight>
 
To move to parent directory use '..' (two dots) (Supported since {{GVI|arma3|1.50}}):
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#include "..\file.sqf"
</syntaxhighlight>
 
Preprocessor does not support the use of macros for pre-defined file names.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define path "codestrip.txt"
#include path // this will cause an error
</syntaxhighlight>
 
=== # ===
 
'#' (single hash) operator wraps the text with quotation marks.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define STRINGIFY(s) #s
#define FOO 123
test1 = STRINGIFY(123); //test1 = "123";
test2 = STRINGIFY(FOO); //test2 = "123";
</syntaxhighlight>
 
This operator does only work on keywords following the rules for macro-names (see {{hl|#define}}-section).
If one wants to stringify anything else (like e.g. a number), one has to use a stringify-macro that takes an argument and stringifies that (as in the example above).
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define MACRO Test #123
MACRO // preprocesses to Test 123 - note that there are not any quotes inserted
</syntaxhighlight>
 
=== ## ===
 
'##' (double hash) operator concatenates what's before the ## with what's after it.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#define GLUE(g1,g2) g1##g2
#define FOO 123
#define BAR 456
test1 = GLUE(123,456); //test1 = 123456;
test2 = GLUE(FOO,BAR); //test2 = 123456;
</syntaxhighlight>
 
=== __LINE__ ===
 
This keyword gets replaced with the line number in the file where it is found. For example, if {{hl|__LINE__}} is found on the 10th line of a file, the word {{hl|__LINE__}} will be replaced with the number 10.
 
=== __FILE__ ===


The <u>purpose</u> of expanded macros (as illustrated above) is to reduce noise levels. To use a simple syntax to be legible, AND TO REDUCE TYPING. Reduction in typing means less typos.
This keyword gets replaced with the CURRENT file being processed.
e.g
"userconfig\file1.sqf"


The <u>purpose</u> of the first form of #define (as illustrated above) is to INCREASE typing but become more explicit, more legible.
{{ArgTitle|3|__FILE_NAME__|{{GVI|arma3|2.18}}}}


  motorcylce=false;
This keyword gets replaced with the '''name''' of the current file being processed.
e.g
  "file1.sqf"


==#undef==
{{ArgTitle|3|__FILE_SHORT__|{{GVI|arma3|2.18}}}}
This will undefine ("delete") a macro previously set by the use of #define.


Syntax
This keyword gets replaced with the '''name''' of the current file being processed, without extension.
e.g
"file1"


#undef NAME
{{ArgTitle|3|__has_include|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}


'''Description:''' Checks if given file exists. Returns 1 if it does, 0 if it does not exist.
{{Feature|important|
* The file path must start with the backslash {{hl|\}} otherwise it would fail silently (returns {{hl|0}} so does nothing unless you put something in {{hl|#else}})!
* If you wanted to make an addon that can change its config dynamically depending on mods that loaded along, '''do not''' binarize the ''config.cpp''!
}}
{{Feature|informative|
To validate that the file exists in your game, you can use [[fileExists]] command to check.
<sqf>
fileExists "\a3\data_f\config.bin"; // returns true
fileExists "\z\ace\addons\main\script_component.hpp"; // returns true if ACE is loaded, false otherwise
</sqf>
}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#if __has_include("\z\ace\addons\main\script_component.hpp")
// file exists! Do something with it
#else
// file does not exist
#endif
</syntaxhighlight>


{{ArgTitle|3|__DATE_ARR__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}


==#ifdef==
'''Description:''' Is replaced for current date in format [[Array|array]].
Syntax
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__DATE_ARR__ // 2020,10,28,15,17,42
</syntaxhighlight>


#ifdef NAME
{{ArgTitle|3|__DATE_STR__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
  ...text that will be used if NAME is defined...
#endif


'''Description:''' Is replaced for current date in format [[String|string]].
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__DATE_STR__  // "2020/10/28, 15:17:42"
</syntaxhighlight>


==#ifndef==
{{ArgTitle|3|__DATE_STR_ISO8601__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
Syntax


  #ifndef NAME
'''Description:''' Is replaced for current date in format [[String|string]]. The date is presented in ISO8601 standard.
  ...text that will be used if NAME ''isn't'' defined...
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#endif
__DATE_STR_ISO8601__ // "2020-10-28T14:17:42Z"
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__TIME__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Is replaced for current time.
  <syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__TIME__ // 15:17:42
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__TIME_UTC__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Is replaced for UTC time.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__TIME_UTC__ // 14:17:42
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__DAY__|{{GVI|arma3|2.16}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Is replaced for UTC day.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__DAY__ // 20
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__MONTH__|{{GVI|arma3|2.16}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Is replaced for UTC month.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__MONTH__ // 11
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__YEAR__|{{GVI|arma3|2.16}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Is replaced for UTC year.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__YEAR__ // 2023
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__COUNTER__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Counts 1 up everytime it is defined.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__COUNTER__ // 0
__COUNTER__ // 1
__COUNTER__ // 2
__COUNTER__ // 3
__COUNTER_RESET__
__COUNTER__ // 0
__COUNTER__ // 1
__COUNTER__ // 2
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__TIMESTAMP_UTC__|{{GVI|arma3|2.06}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Is replaced to the current timestamp in UNIX timestamp.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__TIMESTAMP_UTC__ // 1622639059
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__COUNTER_RESET__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Resets counter. See example above.
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__RAND_INT{{hl|N}}__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Gets replaced by a random {{hl|N}} bit integer. {{hl|N}} can be 8, 16, 32 or 64, e.g:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__RAND_INT8__
__RAND_INT16__
__RAND_INT32__
__RAND_INT64__
</syntaxhighlight>
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__RAND_INT8__ // e.g -102
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__RAND_UINT{{hl|N}}__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Gets replaced by a random ''unsigned'' {{hl|N}} bit integer. {{hl|N}} can be 8, 16, 32 or 64, e.g:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__RAND_UINT8__
__RAND_UINT16__
__RAND_UINT32__
__RAND_UINT64__
</syntaxhighlight>
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__RAND_UINT8__ // 108
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__GAME_VER__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Gets replaced by the game version.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__GAME_VER__ // 02.00.146790
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__GAME_VER_MAJ__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Gets replaced by the ''major'' game version.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__GAME_VER_MAJ__ // 02
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__GAME_VER_MIN__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Gets replaced by the ''minor'' game version.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__GAME_VER_MIN__ // 00
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__GAME_BUILD__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Gets replaced by the build number.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__GAME_BUILD__ // 146790
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__A3_DIAG__|{{GVI|arma3|2.12}}}}
 
'''Description:''' Gets replaced by 1 on diag, undefined otherwise.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__GAME_BUILD__ // 1
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__ARMA__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' {{Wiki|stub}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__ARMA__ // 1
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__ARMA3__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' {{Wiki|stub}}
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__ARMA3__ // 1
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__A3_DEBUG__|{{GVI|arma3|2.02}}}}
 
'''Description:''' This macro is only set when the [[Arma 3: Startup Parameters|-debug parameter]] was provided. It can be used to switch mods or scripts to debug mode dynamically.
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__A3_DEBUG__ // 1 (if -debug was enabled)
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__A3_EXPERIMENTAL__|{{GVI|arma3|2.15}}}}
 
'''Description:''' This macro is only set in experimental game builds ([[Arma_3:_Steam_Branches|Development branch]] or [[Arma_3:_Steam_Branches|Profiling branch]])
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__A3_EXPERIMENTAL__ // 1 (if on dev or profiling branch)
</syntaxhighlight>
can be combined with game build to check for bugfixes added to profiling branch (in case a stable branch hotfix is released with a higher buildnumber but that doesn't include the fix)
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#if __GAME_VER_MIN__ >= 16 //#TODO remove this workaround when 2.16 is released
#define BUG_FIXED
#endif
 
#if __GAME_BUILD__ > 151035 // Builds newer than this
#if __A3_EXPERIMENTAL__ // But on experimental only
#define BUG_FIXED
#endif
#endif
 
#ifdef BUG_FIXED
use the thing
#else
don't use the thing and have some workaround
#endif
</syntaxhighlight>
 
{{ArgTitle|3|__A3_PROFILING__|{{GVI|arma3|2.15}}}}
 
'''Description:''' This macro is only set when Profiling commands are available ([[Arma_3:_Steam_Branches|Development branch]] diag binary or in [[Arma_3:_Steam_Branches|Profiling branch]] profiling binary)
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
#if __A3_PROFILING__
diag_captureFrame 1;
#endif
</syntaxhighlight>
 
== Config Parser ==
 
{{Feature|important|
* {{hl|__EXEC}} and {{hl|__EVAL}} '''cannot''' be used in preprocessor {{Link|#Macros}}, e.g '''{{Link|##if}}'''!
}}
{{Feature|informative|
* {{hl|__EXEC}} and {{hl|__EVAL}} can be used in configs (such as [[config.cpp]], [[Description.ext]], [[Rvmat File Format|RVMat]] etc) but are not suitable for [[SQF Syntax|SQF]] or [[SQS Syntax|SQS]] scripts.
* As they use [[parsingNamespace]], both global and local variables set in {{hl|__EXEC}} are available in {{hl|__EVAL}}.
* [[parsingNamespace]] can then be accessed through scripting; see the {{Link|#EXEC|__EXEC}} example below.
}}
 
=== __EXEC ===
 
This '''Config Parser''' macro allows to assign values to internal variables or just execute arbitrary code.
The code inside {{hl|__EXEC}} macros runs in [[parsingNamespace]] and variables defined in it will also be created in [[parsingNamespace]]. The variables can then be used to create more complex macros:
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__EXEC(cat = 5 + 1;)
__EXEC(lev = cat - 2;)
</syntaxhighlight>
<sqf>
_cat = parsingNamespace getVariable "cat"; // 6
_lev = parsingNamespace getVariable "lev"; // 4
</sqf>
 
{{Feature|warning|
{{hl|__EXEC}} does not like round brackets {{hl|()}} inside expressions. If grouping is needed, perhaps values could be calculated inside the brackets separately and assigned to local variables:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">__EXEC(a = (1+2);) // ERROR</syntaxhighlight>
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
__EXEC(_expr = 1+2;)
__EXEC(a = _expr;) // OK
</syntaxhighlight>
}}
 
=== __EVAL ===
 
With this '''Config Parser''' macro expressions can be evaluated, including previously assigned internal variables. Unlike {{hl|__EXEC}}, {{hl|__EVAL}} supports multiple parentheses:
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">
w = __EVAL(safeZoneW - (5 * ((1 / (getResolution select 2)) * 1.25 * 4)));
</syntaxhighlight>
 
* {{hl|__EVAL}} macros '''must''' be assigned to a config property and the expression '''must''' be terminated with {{hl|;}}.
* {{hl|__EVAL}} can only return [[Number]] or [[String]]. Any other type is represented as [[String]], even [[Boolean]] type (which would result in either {{hl|"true"}} or {{hl|"false"}}).
 
{{Feature|informative|
if code is needed in the expression, use [[compile]] [[String]] instead. Like so:
<syntaxhighlight lang="cpp">result = __EVAL(call compile "123");</syntaxhighlight>
that is because {{hl|__EVAL}} is incapable of dealing with curly brackets {{hl|{}}}
 
}}
 
== Errors ==
 
=== Error 2 ===
 
; Problem: Preprocessor failed error 2.
 
; How to fix: Add quotation marks in the title, or the file path. (''e.g.'' {{hl|#include "soGood.sqf"}}).
 
=== Error 6 ===
 
; Problem: Preprocessor failed on file X - error 6.
 
; Known reasons:
: "The problem is using {{hl|#ifdef #ifdef #endif #endif}}, a.k.a nested {{hl|#ifdef}}. This doesn't work in Arma. It's only possible to use {{hl|#ifdef}} and {{hl|#endif}} once and not nested."
: {{hl|#endif}} without preceding {{hl|#ifdef}} or {{hl|#ifndef}}
 
=== Error 7 ===
 
; Problem: Preprocessor failed on file X - error 7.
 
; Known reasons: The preprocessor encountered an unknown directive. Read, as a typo most has likely found a way into the file (something like {{hl|#inlcude}} or {{hl|#defien}}).<!--
--> Double-check all preprocessor directives in that file.
 
 
== External links ==
 
* {{Link|https://web.archive.org/web/20170319190732/http://ofp-faguss.com/files/ofp_preprocessor_explained.pdf|{{ofp}} - Preprocessor Guide (Wayback Machine)}}
* {{Link|https://github.com/Krzmbrzl/ArmaPreprocessorTestCases|Collection of preprocessor test-cases}}


==#endif==
This ends a conditional block as shown in the descriptions of #ifdef and #ifndef above.


[[category:Operation Flashpoint: Editing]]
[[Category:Scripting Topics]]
[[Category:ArmA: Addon Configuration]]

Latest revision as of 17:28, 19 May 2024

The PreProcessor and the Config Parser allow to use macros in configs. The purpose of macros is to re-use the same definition in scripts and configs multiple times. It also gives a centralized place to correct errors in this definition. Know that edge cases may arise - see the collection of test-cases linked at the end of this page.

Arma 3
In Arma 3, preprocessor commands are case-sensitive!


Parsing

See Config Parser below:


Macros

Comments

A comment is a line within code that is not actually processed by the game engine. They are used to make code more readable or to add notes for future reference. The preprocessor removes all comments from the file before it is processed. Therefore, comments are never actually "seen" by the game engine.

⚠
Sometimes a problematic string can fail to purge these comment outs during preprocessing!
private _a = '"'; // this is just a comment, but failed to remove upon the preprocess so will return an error. Caused by that string
// this is a single-line comment
 
/*
	this is a
	multi-line
	comment
*/
 
myValue = something; // only this part of the line is commented out

myArray = { "apple"/*, "banana"*/, "pear" }; // a portion in the middle of this line is commented out

#define

Using the #define instruction, it is possible to define a keyword and assign a definition to it. The keyword may contain any letter, digit or underscore in arbitrary order, as long as it does not start with a digit (RegEx: [a-zA-Z_][0-9a-zA-Z_]*). As an example: 

#define true 1

The above means that whenever true is used in a config, the parser will replace this with the value 1.

The define-statement does swallow all spaces in between the macro-keyword and any non-space-character in the body (Note that tabs are not spaces! They don't get removed) 

#define MACRO                     test
MACRO // preprocesses to test (without any spaces)

#define MACRO	test // There's a tab between MACRO and test
MACRO // preprocesses to "	test" (without quotes - they are only used to show that the tab character didn't get removed)

The space between the macro-keyword and the body is also fully optional (though very useful to tell the preprocessor where the macro name ends and where the body begins): 

#define MACRO#test
MACRO // preprocesses to "test"

Arguments

Arguments can be added to more complex macros, by including them between brackets after the keyword. For the name of the arguments the same rule as for the macro-keyword (see above) apply. 

#define CAR(NAME) displayName = NAME;

If CAR("Mini") is used, it will be replaced with displayName = "Mini";. Multiple arguments can also be used: 

#define BLASTOFF(UNIT,RATE) UNIT setVelocity [0,0,RATE];

Macro arguments may be composed of any characters, as long as they do not contain a comma (because commas are used as argument-delimiters). If quotes are being used, they have to be balanced. The same applies to single-quotes; this is because String detection is working in macro arguments - therefore commas can even get passed in as a macro argument as long as they are part of a String (This only works with Strings wrapped in double-quotes though). Note however that although the macro gets resolved properly, the comma gets removed from the String (probably a bug). 

#define MACRO(arg) arg
MACRO("Some, content") // preprocesses to "Some content" (note the missing comma)

Quote escaping is also not supported in this context (neither with double- nor with single-quotes) 

#define MACRO(arg) arg
MACRO("Some ""content""") // preprocesses to "Some ""content"""

Passing arrays with more than one element [el1,el2,...] as arguments into macros as well as any argument containing comas "some, sentence", will need a small workaround: 

#define HINTARG(ARG) hint ("Passed argument: " + str ARG)

Incorrect usage: 

HINTARG([1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0]); // ERROR, won't even compile

Correct usage: 

#define array1 [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0] 
HINTARG(array1); // SUCCESS

The argument replacement is performed before the expansion of the macro body. That means one doesn't have to worry about name-conflicts between argument-names of the current macro and already defined macros: 

#define ONE foo
#define TWO(ONE) ONE
TWO(bar) // will preprocess to bar

Replacing parts of words

By default, only whole words can be replaced by arguments. If only a part of the word should be replaced, use the ## instruction. This is necessary when either the start or the end of the argument connects to another character that is not a

(semi-colon) or   (space).
class NAME##_Button_Slider: RscText \
{ \
	model = \OFP2\Structures\Various\##FOLDER##\##FOLDER; \

It is also possible to use the single # to convert an argument to a string. 

statement = (this animate [#SEL, 0]); \

Multi-line

For longer definitions, one can stretch the macro across multiple lines. To create a multi-line definition, each line except the last one should end with a \ character: 

#define DRAWBUTTON(NAME)\
	__EXEC(idcNav = idcNav + 4) \
	// ...
ⓘ
The backslash must be the last character in a line when defining a multi-line macro. Any character (including spaces) after the backslash will cause issues.

#undef

Undefine (delete) a macro previously set by the use of #define. 

#undef NAME

#if

Description: Checks condition and processes content if condition returns 1. Skips content if it returns 0 

#if __GAME_VER_MAJ__ != 2
// Do something...
#endif

Comparison Operators

The following operations are supported:

  • <
  • >
  • <=
  • >=
  • ==
  • !=

Example: 

#if __GAME_VER_MAJ__ != 2
// Do something...
#endif

#ifdef

A simple if-then construction to check whether a certain set of definitions has already been made: 

#ifdef NAME
	// config that will be used if NAME is defined
#endif

IFDEFs cannot be nested. The preprocessor will generate errors for all inner definitions if the outer definition doesn't exist.

#ifndef

Same as #ifdef, but checks for absence of definition instead. 

#ifndef NAME
	// config that will be used if NAME is -not- defined
#endif

#else

Provides alternative code to #if, #ifdef, #ifndef checks. 

#ifndef NAME
	// config that will be used if NAME is -not- defined
#else
	// config that will be used if NAME -is- defined
#endif

#endif

This ends a conditional block as shown in the descriptions of #ifdef and #ifndef above.

#include

Copies the code from a target file and pastes it where #include directive is. 

#include "file.hpp"
#include <file.txt> // Brackets are equivalent to quotation marks and may be used in their place.

Source directory is:

  • For any file without starting the include path with \ - the file's current directory
  • When starting with \ - the internal filesystem root (see Addon Development) or the Game's working directory (only with -filePatching enabled)

A path beginning can be defined as follow:

  • drive (only with -filePatching enabled): 
    #include "D:\file.txt"
  • PBO with PBOPREFIX: 
     #include "\myMod\myAddon\file.txt"
  • PBO (keep in mind that in this case, if the PBO's file name will be changed, all '#include' referencing it will need to be updated):
    #include"\myMod\myAddon\file.txt" // Arma 3\@myMod\addons\myAddon.pbo\file.txt;

To move to parent directory use '..' (two dots) (Supported since Arma 3 logo black.png1.50): 

#include "..\file.sqf"

Preprocessor does not support the use of macros for pre-defined file names. 

#define path "codestrip.txt"
#include path // this will cause an error

#

'#' (single hash) operator wraps the text with quotation marks. 

#define STRINGIFY(s) #s
#define FOO 123
test1 = STRINGIFY(123); //test1 = "123";
test2 = STRINGIFY(FOO); //test2 = "123";

This operator does only work on keywords following the rules for macro-names (see #define-section). If one wants to stringify anything else (like e.g. a number), one has to use a stringify-macro that takes an argument and stringifies that (as in the example above). 

#define MACRO Test #123
MACRO // preprocesses to Test 123 - note that there are not any quotes inserted

##

'##' (double hash) operator concatenates what's before the ## with what's after it. 

#define GLUE(g1,g2) g1##g2
#define FOO 123
#define BAR 456
test1 = GLUE(123,456); //test1 = 123456;
test2 = GLUE(FOO,BAR); //test2 = 123456;

__LINE__

This keyword gets replaced with the line number in the file where it is found. For example, if __LINE__ is found on the 10th line of a file, the word __LINE__ will be replaced with the number 10.

__FILE__

This keyword gets replaced with the CURRENT file being processed. e.g 

"userconfig\file1.sqf"

__FILE_NAME__

This keyword gets replaced with the name of the current file being processed. e.g 

"file1.sqf"

__FILE_SHORT__

This keyword gets replaced with the name of the current file being processed, without extension. e.g 

"file1"

__has_include

Description: Checks if given file exists. Returns 1 if it does, 0 if it does not exist.

⚠
  • The file path must start with the backslash \ otherwise it would fail silently (returns 0 so does nothing unless you put something in #else)!
  • If you wanted to make an addon that can change its config dynamically depending on mods that loaded along, do not binarize the config.cpp!
ⓘ
To validate that the file exists in your game, you can use fileExists command to check.
fileExists "\a3\data_f\config.bin"; // returns true fileExists "\z\ace\addons\main\script_component.hpp"; // returns true if ACE is loaded, false otherwise
#if __has_include("\z\ace\addons\main\script_component.hpp")
// file exists! Do something with it
#else
// file does not exist
#endif

__DATE_ARR__

Description: Is replaced for current date in format array. 

__DATE_ARR__ // 2020,10,28,15,17,42

__DATE_STR__

Description: Is replaced for current date in format string. 

__DATE_STR__  // "2020/10/28, 15:17:42"

__DATE_STR_ISO8601__

Description: Is replaced for current date in format string. The date is presented in ISO8601 standard. 

__DATE_STR_ISO8601__ // "2020-10-28T14:17:42Z"

__TIME__

Description: Is replaced for current time. 

__TIME__ // 15:17:42

__TIME_UTC__

Description: Is replaced for UTC time. 

__TIME_UTC__ // 14:17:42

__DAY__

Description: Is replaced for UTC day. 

__DAY__ // 20

__MONTH__

Description: Is replaced for UTC month. 

__MONTH__ // 11

__YEAR__

Description: Is replaced for UTC year. 

__YEAR__ // 2023

__COUNTER__

Description: Counts 1 up everytime it is defined. 

__COUNTER__ // 0
__COUNTER__ // 1
__COUNTER__ // 2
__COUNTER__ // 3
__COUNTER_RESET__
__COUNTER__ // 0
__COUNTER__ // 1
__COUNTER__ // 2

__TIMESTAMP_UTC__

Description: Is replaced to the current timestamp in UNIX timestamp. 

__TIMESTAMP_UTC__ // 1622639059

__COUNTER_RESET__

Description: Resets counter. See example above.

__RAND_INTN__

Description: Gets replaced by a random N bit integer. N can be 8, 16, 32 or 64, e.g: 

__RAND_INT8__
__RAND_INT16__
__RAND_INT32__
__RAND_INT64__

__RAND_INT8__ // e.g -102

__RAND_UINTN__

Description: Gets replaced by a random unsigned N bit integer. N can be 8, 16, 32 or 64, e.g: 

__RAND_UINT8__
__RAND_UINT16__
__RAND_UINT32__
__RAND_UINT64__

__RAND_UINT8__ // 108

__GAME_VER__

Description: Gets replaced by the game version. 

__GAME_VER__ // 02.00.146790

__GAME_VER_MAJ__

Description: Gets replaced by the major game version. 

__GAME_VER_MAJ__ // 02

__GAME_VER_MIN__

Description: Gets replaced by the minor game version. 

__GAME_VER_MIN__ // 00

__GAME_BUILD__

Description: Gets replaced by the build number. 

__GAME_BUILD__ // 146790

__A3_DIAG__

Description: Gets replaced by 1 on diag, undefined otherwise. 

__GAME_BUILD__ // 1

__ARMA__

Description:

This article is a Stub. You can help BI Community Wiki by expanding it.
__ARMA__ // 1

__ARMA3__

Description:

This article is a Stub. You can help BI Community Wiki by expanding it.
__ARMA3__ // 1

__A3_DEBUG__

Description: This macro is only set when the -debug parameter was provided. It can be used to switch mods or scripts to debug mode dynamically. 

__A3_DEBUG__ // 1 (if -debug was enabled)

__A3_EXPERIMENTAL__

Description: This macro is only set in experimental game builds (Development branch or Profiling branch) 

__A3_EXPERIMENTAL__ // 1 (if on dev or profiling branch)

can be combined with game build to check for bugfixes added to profiling branch (in case a stable branch hotfix is released with a higher buildnumber but that doesn't include the fix) 

#if __GAME_VER_MIN__ >= 16 //#TODO remove this workaround when 2.16 is released
#define BUG_FIXED
#endif

#if __GAME_BUILD__ > 151035 // Builds newer than this
#if __A3_EXPERIMENTAL__ // But on experimental only
#define BUG_FIXED
#endif
#endif

#ifdef BUG_FIXED
use the thing
#else
don't use the thing and have some workaround
#endif

__A3_PROFILING__

Description: This macro is only set when Profiling commands are available (Development branch diag binary or in Profiling branch profiling binary) 

#if __A3_PROFILING__
diag_captureFrame 1;
#endif

Config Parser

⚠
  • __EXEC and __EVAL cannot be used in preprocessor Macros, e.g #if!
ⓘ

__EXEC

This Config Parser macro allows to assign values to internal variables or just execute arbitrary code. The code inside __EXEC macros runs in parsingNamespace and variables defined in it will also be created in parsingNamespace. The variables can then be used to create more complex macros: 

__EXEC(cat = 5 + 1;)
__EXEC(lev = cat - 2;)

_cat = parsingNamespace getVariable "cat"; // 6 _lev = parsingNamespace getVariable "lev"; // 4

⚠
__EXEC does not like round brackets () inside expressions. If grouping is needed, perhaps values could be calculated inside the brackets separately and assigned to local variables: 
__EXEC(a = (1+2);) // ERROR

__EXEC(_expr = 1+2;)
__EXEC(a = _expr;) // OK

__EVAL

With this Config Parser macro expressions can be evaluated, including previously assigned internal variables. Unlike __EXEC, __EVAL supports multiple parentheses: 

w = __EVAL(safeZoneW - (5 * ((1 / (getResolution select 2)) * 1.25 * 4)));
  • __EVAL macros must be assigned to a config property and the expression must be terminated with
.
  • __EVAL can only return Number or String. Any other type is represented as String, even Boolean type (which would result in either "true" or "false").
ⓘ
if code is needed in the expression, use compile String instead. Like so: 
result = __EVAL(call compile "123");
that is because __EVAL is incapable of dealing with curly brackets {}

Errors

Error 2

Problem
Preprocessor failed error 2.
How to fix
Add quotation marks in the title, or the file path. (e.g. #include "soGood.sqf").

Error 6

Problem
Preprocessor failed on file X - error 6.
Known reasons
"The problem is using #ifdef #ifdef #endif #endif, a.k.a nested #ifdef. This doesn't work in Arma. It's only possible to use #ifdef and #endif once and not nested."
#endif without preceding #ifdef or #ifndef

Error 7

Problem
Preprocessor failed on file X - error 7.
Known reasons
The preprocessor encountered an unknown directive. Read, as a typo most has likely found a way into the file (something like #inlcude or #defien). Double-check all preprocessor directives in that file.


External links

Retrieved from "https://community.bistudio.com/wiki?title=PreProcessor_Commands&oldid=364599"