format

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Description

Description:
Composes a string containing other variables or other variable types. Converts any variable type to a string. If you want to convert a string back to a number, use parseNumber.
The output of this command is limited to ~8Kb. joinString on the other hand doesn't have such limit and is a bit faster.
Since Arma 3 logo black.png2.20 the maximum length of the string is 8388608 characters. Additionally, two consecutive percent symbols will be formatted to a single percent symbol in the final string (%% -> %)
Groups:
Strings

Syntax

Syntax:
format [formatString, var1, var2, ...]
Parameters:
formatString: String - a string containing text and/or references to the variables listed below in the array. The references appear in the form of %1, %2 etc.
varN: Anything - variable referenced by %N
Return Value:
String - the full string (up to 8kb, see above) is returned.

Examples

Example 1:
format ["Player:%1, player's side:%2", player, side player]; // returns "Player:WEST 1-1-A:1 (Username), player's side:WEST"
Example 2:
player addEventHandler ["HandleDamage", { hint format ["You just sustained %1%2 damage!", ceil ((_this select 2) * 100), "%"]; }]; // Shows "You just sustained 20% damage!"
Example 3:
// Since Arma 3 v2.18 two consecutive percent symbols will be formatted to a single percent symbol in the final string (%% -> %) player addEventHandler ["HandleDamage", { hint format ["You just sustained %1%% damage!", ceil ((_this select 2) * 100)]; }]; // Shows "You just sustained 20% damage!"

Additional Information

See also:
formatText endl str toString joinString

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
Worldeater - c
Posted on Mar 02, 2009 - 15:12 (UTC)

The maximum number of characters returned by the format command seems to depend on the total byte count. For plain ASCII strings the limit is 2048 characters.

Heeeere's Johnny! - c
Posted on Mar 28, 2015 - 09:22 (UTC)
In addition to the note above, formatTexted strings are Structured Text, hence cannot be used like formatted strings (with most scripting commands). A workaround to get strings of type String with more than 8191 characters is:
str formatText ["%1", _string]