preprocessFile

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Description

Description:: Reads and processes the content of the specified file. Preprocessor is C-like, supports comments using // or /* and */ and PreProcessor Commands. Due to the hard-drive access this command executes and the lack of caching this command should not be used in time-critical script loops.
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If the file you are loading is not prepared using UTF-8 encoding and contains some characters with codes > 127, they might convert incorrectly.
Groups:: System

Syntax

Syntax:: preprocessFile fileName
Parameters:: fileName: String - path to the file and name of the file
Return Value:: String

Examples

Example 1:: _content = preprocessFile "myFunction.sqf";

Additional Information

See also:: fileExists preprocessFileLineNumbers loadFile Function SQF Syntax call spawn execVM PreProcessor Commands

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

Alef - c: Posted on Mar 04, 2008 - 22:35 (UTC)
: File path is always relative to mission directory. If script dir\a.sqf includes dir\b.sqf, use "dir\b.sqf" and not "b.sqf".

Kju - c: Posted on Jul 08, 2011 - 10:59 (UTC)
: Use preprocessFileLineNumbers instead as it provides more context information on error.

Killzone_Kid - c: Posted on Dec 17, 2013 - 13:44 (UTC)
: The main difference between preprocessFile and preprocessFileLineNumbers is that the latter adds #line directive to the target file, which allows to log the __LINE__ error happened at and the __FILE__ error happened in.

BrotherhoodOfHam - c

Posted on Jul 25, 2014 - 18:43 (UTC)

Essentially what the preprocessFile command does is it refers to the contents of a file as a string:
Example 1:
boop.html:

<t align = 'center' valign = 'middle' shadow = '0' size = '2'>structured text</t>

init.sqf:

_text = parseText preprocessFile "boop.html"; hint _text;

This is especially useful for long strings, and it works on files with any file extension as long as they can be edited with a text editor.
Example 2:
init.sqf:

hint preprocessFile "description.ext"; copyToClipboard preprocessFile "mission.sqm";

The above is all valid. However, using *.jpg or any other files saved in an image format is not possible.