Description.ext

The Description.ext file sets the overall mission attributes, and defines some global entities that will be available to other scripts. It is placed in mission's root folder. It uses the same syntax and structure as the Config.cpp file, but supports only a limited number of the full set of Config.cpp classes. Many, such as CfgVehicles, won't work.

In OFP:Elite this file is required for MP missions. If this is not included, a "-1 error" is shown when selecting the mission and the mission won't load.

⚠

For edits to description.ext to take effect in Preview you must first save or re-load the mission into the editor.

Attributes

Intro- duced in	Attribute	Type	Description	See Also onLoadMission	String	Displays a message while the mission is loading. Note that a mission that takes very little time to load will only display the message for a short time. Care should be taken to see whether your message is readable in that timeframe. onLoadMission = "YourMissionName"; The OnLoadMission option is used to present the mission name to the user. In MP this is the name you see when selecting a mission and also the name that is presented to the GameSpy browser. onLoadIntro	String	Displays a message while the intro is loading. onLoadIntro = "YourMessage" onLoadMissionTime	Number	Define whether you will see the time and date displayed while the mission loads. 1 means visible, 0 hidden. onLoadMissionTime = 1; onLoadIntroTime	Number	Define whether you will see the time and date displayed while the intro loads. 1 means visible, 0 hidden. onLoadIntroTime = 1; loadScreen	String	You can define a picture to be shown while the mission is loaded. The path is relative to the mission folder. loadScreen = "pictures\intro.paa"; cfgLoadingTexts	Class	Define mission specific loading texts. minScore	Number	Set minimum score for your mission. Score is related to the star display in the debriefing screen. The score can be influenced during a missions progress by using the addRating command. minScore = 0; Values have to follow this formula: minScore < avgScore < maxScore. Any other combinations can lead to game freeze upon mission end.	avgScore, maxScore avgScore	Number	Set average score for your mission. Score is related to the star display in the debriefing screen. The score can be influenced during a missions progress by using the addRating command. avgScore = 1800; Values have to follow this formula: minScore < avgScore < maxScore. Any other combinations can lead to game freeze upon mission end.	minScore, maxScore maxScore	Number	Set minimum score for your mission. Score is related to the star display in the debriefing screen. The score can be influenced during a missions progress by using the addRating command. maxScore = 75000; Values have to follow this formula: minScore < avgScore < maxScore. Any other combinations can lead to game freeze upon mission end.	minScore, avgScore respawn	String or Number	Sets respawn type. Can be one of: 0 or "NONE" - No respawn 1 or "BIRD" - Respawn as a seagull 2 or "INSTANT" - Respawn just where you died. 3 or "BASE" - Respawn in base. Requires a marker named: respawn_west respawn_east respawn_guerrila respawn_civilian Add markers named with the prefix 'respawn_west' with any suffix (eg: respawn_westABC, respawn_west1, respawn_west_2, etc) for multiple random respawn points. Similarly for east, guerrila and civilian. Vehicle respawn in base requires a marker named: respawn_vehicle_west respawn_vehicle_east respawn_vehicle_guerrila respawn_vehicle_civilian 4 or "GROUP" - Respawn in your group (if there's no AI left, you'll become a seagull). 5 or "SIDE" - Respawn into an AI unit on your side (if there's no AI left, you'll become a seagull). With this respawn type, team switch is also available to any AI controlled playable units.	respawnDelay, respawnVehicleDelay, respawnDialog respawnDelay	Number	Set respawn delay in seconds. respawnDelay = 42;	respawn, respawnVehicleDelay, respawnDialog respawnVehicleDelay	Number	Set vehicle respawn delay in seconds. respawnVehicleDelay = 11;	respawn, respawnDelay, respawnDialog respawnDialog	Number	Show the scoreboard and respawn countdown timer for a player if he is killed with respawnType 3. Default is 1 (true). respawnDialog = 0;	respawn, respawnDelay, respawnVehicleDelay cfgSounds	Class	General sounds that can be used for dialog, voiceovers in the briefing etc. class CfgSounds { sounds[] = {}; class wolf1 { // how the sound is referred to in the editor (e.g. trigger effects) name = "my_wolf_sound"; // filename, volume, pitch sound[] = {"fx\wolf1.ogg", 1, 1}; // subtitle delay in seconds, subtitle text titles[] = {1, "*wolf growls*"}; }; }; Use in missions: playSound "wolf1"; // use the class name! player say ["wolf1", 100]; (see tutorial) cfgRadio	Class	Radio sentences class CfgRadio { sounds[] = {}; class RadioMsg1 { name = ""; sound[] = {"\sound\filename1.ogg", db-100, 1.0}; title = "I am ready for your orders."; }; class RadioMsg2 { name = ""; sound[] = {"\sound\filename2", db-100, 1.0}; // .wss implied title = {$STR_RADIO_2}; }; }; Note that the location of the sound file is relative to the mission. Use in missions: unit sideRadio "RadioMsg2"; cfgMusic	Class	class CfgMusic { tracks[]={}; class MarsIntro { name = ""; sound[] = {"\music\filename.ogg", db+0, 1.0}; }; class Ludwig9 { name = ""; sound[] = {"\music\filename.ogg", db+10, 1.0}; }; }; Name can be left blank as in the examples above. Only specify a name if you wish to access these sounds via the environment options of a trigger. Title is the text string that will be displayed on the screen when the sound file is played. See also Stringtable.csv ⚠ Setting volume (db) of music far from zero will disable fadeMusic command. Optimal values are from -10 to 10. Use in missions: playMusic "MarsIntro" cfgIdentities	Class	Define the identities of individual units, you can specify the face, type of glasses worn, voice, tone of voice and name of an identity. You then give a specific unit this identity by using the command setIdentity in the mission. Note: nameSound is only valid for ArmA3. class CfgIdentities { class MyLittleSoldier { name="Givens"; nameSound = "Givens"; // ArmA3 only! face="whiteHead_06"; glasses="None"; speaker="Male05ENG"; pitch=1.1; }; }; See Category:CfgIdentities for valid options for: face, glasses, speaker etc.	setIdentity cfgFunctions	Class	Define a functions for your mission. See Functions Library for detailed info.	Functions Library keys	Array	List of keys (needed for keysLimit) keys[] = {"key1","key2","key3"}; Note that unlike other 'text' items $STR_ variables (in the stringtable.csv for the mission) cannot be used	keysLimit, doneKeys keysLimit	Number	Number of keys from the keys list needed for unlock a mission. keysLimit[] = 2;	keys, doneKeys doneKeys	Array	Name of key(s) needed for mark a mission in SP missions list as completed. doneKeys[] = {"key4"}; Note that unlike other 'text' items $STR_ variables (in the stringtable.csv for the mission) cannot be used Keys can be activated using activateKey and checked by isKeyActive.	keys, keysLimit disabledAI	Number	When 1, removes all playable units which do not have a human player. When 0, a logging out player will have AI take control of his character. Default value is 0. (MP) disabledAI = 1; Disabling all the AI units will prevent JIP into playable units. aiKills	Number	Enables scorelist for AI players aiKills = 1; briefing	Number	Skip briefing screen for SP missions. If no briefing.html is present, it is skipped anyway. briefing = 0; Briefing will still be displayed untill all clients are connected and done loading. debriefing	Number	Defines if the debriefing is shown or not at the end of the mission. debriefing = 0; showGPS	Number	Enables/Disables the GPS ShowGPS = 0; In ArmA 1.04 toggle this option to disable the mini map attached to the GPS. showCompass	Number	Defines if the compass is visible. showCompass = 0; showMap	Number	Defines if the map is shown after the mission starts. showMap = 0; showNotePad	Number	In ArmA, defines if the NotePad is shown after the mission starts. showNotePad = 0; showPad	Number	Defines if the NotePad is shown after the mission starts. (Not in ArmA) showPad = 0; showWatch	Number	Defines if the watch is visible. showWatch = 0; scriptedPlayer	Number	When scripted player is enabled, game no longer shows "No player select" error message upon mission start when no player unit is present. scriptedPlayer = 1; rscTitles	Class	Defines custom UI displays. To show such displays, use cutRsc or titleRsc. weapons	Class	Set weapons available to players during the briefing. class Weapons { class AK74 {count = 8;}; class RPG7V {count = 2;}; class Binocular {count = 2;}; };	magazines, backpacks magazines	Class	Set magazines available to players during the briefing. class Magazines { class 30Rnd_545x39_AK {count = 32;}; class PG7V {count = 6;}; class HandGrenade {count = 16;}; };	weapons, backpacks backpacks	Class	Set backpacks available to players during the briefing. class Backpacks { class US_Patrol_Pack_EP1 {count = 4;}; class US_Assault_Pack_EP1 {count = 4;}; };	weapons, magazines weaponPool	Number	Allows equipment transferred from one campaign mission to the next to be available during the briefing in the gear menu. weaponPool = 1; See also Command Group: Weapon Pool. allowSubordinatesTakeWeapons	Number	Allows subordinates (i.e., not leaders) to equip items defined in weapons, magazines and backpacks. allowSubordinatesTakeWeapons= 1; titleParam%	String	titleParam1 and titleParam2 (% in title is replaced either by 1 or 2) are multiplayer options. These options are seen in the lobby of a multiplayer game. These options can be useful for setting time limits and score limits in such games as Capture the Flag and Death Matches. Other popular uses include accelerate time, setting the mission difficulty or switching the intro on/off. In the mission param1 and param2 have the values of the chosen options. Many people will assign a variable in the init.sqs file to param1 for simplicity, an example of this would be to assign variable timelimit = param1. titleParam1 = "Time limit:"; valuesParam1[] = {0, 300, 600, 900}; defValueParam1 = 900; textsParam1[] = {"Unlimited", "5 min", "10 min", "15 min"}; titleParam2 = "Score to win:"; valuesParam2[] = {10000, 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30}; defValueParam2 = 5; textsParam2[] = {"Unlimited", 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30}; valuesParam%	Array	See titleParam%	titleParam% defValueParam%	Number	See titleParam%	titleParam% textsParam%	Array	See titleParam%	titleParam% params	Class	Advanced multiplayer mission params, replacing obsolete titleParam%. The array of parameters can be accessed via paramsArray (Array, paramsArray select 0, etc.) class Params { class Score { title = "$STR_mp_param_score"; values[] = {10,200}; texts[] = {"10","200"}; default = 10; }; class Duration { title = "$STR_mp_param_duration"; values[] = {1,2}; texts[] = {"one hour","two hours"}; default = 1; }; etc. ..... }	titleParam% header	Class	See Multiplayer Game Types disableChannels	Array	Disable global, side, command and system chat. MOTD and admin say have exception and will show in global. Introduced in BETA 1.60.93398. disableChannels[]={0,1,2,6}; 0 = Global 1 = Side 2 = Command 3 = Group 4 = Vehicle 5 = Direct 6 = System enableItemsDropping	Number	Disable dropping items while swimming. Introduced in BETA 1.60.93965. enableItemsDropping = 0; 0 = Disable 1 = Enable onLoadName	String	String (usually mission name) shown during mission loading. The string is shown in a slightly larger font above the loadScreen. For example: author="Varanon"; OnLoadName = "Point Insertion"; OnLoadMission = "A group of NATO soldiers is tasked with sabotaging a coastal defense."; loadScreen = "images\loadScreen.paa"; This produces the pictured result. The onLoadMission text is placed below the load screen and the header gameType determines the game time on top of the box.	Loading Screens author	String	Author of the mission. The default loading screen shows this string below the onLoadName in a smaller font prefixed by "by". See onLoadName	Loading Screens joinUnassigned	Number	By default a new player is not auto assigned a free playable slot in the mission lobby in Multiplayer. Set it to 0/false to make him auto assigned to the side with least players. joinUnassigned = 0;//false; 0 = Disable 1 = Enable allowFunctionsLog	Number	Allows functions to log to the RPT file. Set it to 1/true to allow RPT logging. allowFunctionsLog = 1;//true 0 = Disable 1 = Enable	BIS_fnc_error enableDebugConsole	Number	Allows access to the Debug Console outside of the editor during normal gameplay. enableDebugConsole = 2;//dangerous in MP 0 = Default behavior, available only in editor 1 = Available in SP and for hosts / logged in admins 2 = Available for everyone	Mission_Editor:_Debug_Console corpseLimit	Number	Corpse limit before which corpseRemovalMaxTime applies and after which corpseRemovalMinTime applies (see below). corpseLimit = 1; Default value: 15 corpseRemovalMinTime	Number	Remove all bodies that have been dead longer than corpseRemovalMinTime when corpseLimit is reached. corpseRemovalMinTime = 60; //seconds Default value: 10 corpseRemovalMaxTime	Number	Maximum time a corpse can remain on the ground if total number of corpses is under corpseLimit. corpseRemovalMaxTime = 1200; //seconds Default value: 3600 wreckLimit	Number	Vehicle wreck limit before which wreckMaxTime applies and after which wreckMinTime applies (see below). wreckLimit = 1; Default value: ?? wreckMinTime	Number	Remove all wrecks that have existed longer than wreckMinTime when wreckLimit is reached. wreckMinTime = 60; //seconds Default value: ?? wreckMaxTime	Number	Maximum time a wreck can remain on the ground if total number of wrecks is under wreckLimit. wreckMaxTime = 1200; //seconds Default value: ??