{"name":"SQS to SQF conversion","title":"SQS to SQF conversion","type":"topic","url":"https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/SQS_to_SQF_conversion","revid":377918,"updated":"2026-01-11T15:31:56Z","aliases":[],"markdown":"SQF Syntax has been introduced in Operation Flashpoint: Resistance v1.85 and is the Arma series' main scripting language until Arma 3.\nThe main differences with SQS Syntax are:\n\n- **execVM** is used (instead of exec for SQS)\n- Every command has to end with a semicolon (`;`)\n- the following commands disappeared:\n - goto/\n #label (Note, # is a command in itself in Arma 3)\n - exit - a partial SQF equivalent can be found in exitWith\n- Line returns do not impact code\n- SQF can return a variable, where SQS cannot\n\n### Conversion Examples\n\n| SQS | SQF |\n|---|---|\n| **Comment** | |\n| `; This is a comment`
```sqs
; This is a
; multiline
; comment
```
`comment \"this is a comment\";`
`\"this is a comment\";` | `// This is single-line comment`
```sqf
/*
This is a
multiline
comment
*/
```
`comment \"this is a comment\";`
`\"this is a comment\";` |\n| **Conditional Wait** | |\n| `@CONDITION`
`@ not alive player` | `waitUntil { CONDITION };`
`waitUntil { not alive player };` |\n| **Delay** | |\n| `~DELAY`
`~5` | `sleep DELAY;`
`sleep 5;` |\n| **Conditional Command** | |\n| `? CONDITION : COMMAND`
`? alive player : player setDammage 1` | `if (CONDITION) then { COMMAND };`
`if (alive player) then { player setDammage 1 };` |\n| **Multi-Conditional Command** | |\n| ```sqs
? CONDITION : goto \"SKIP\"
COMMAND_2
goto \"END\"
#SKIP
COMMAND_1
#END
``` | ```sqf
if (CONDITION) then
{
COMMAND_1
}
else
{
COMMAND_2
};
``` |\n| **Cycle** | |\n| ```sqs
#loop
COMMAND
~DELAY
? CONDITION : goto \"LOOP\"
``` | ```sqf
while { CONDITION } do
{
COMMAND;
sleep DELAY;
};
``` |\n| **Cycle With Step** | |\n| ```sqs
_i = 0
#LOOP
COMMAND
_i = _i + 1;
? _i < COUNT : goto \"LOOP\"
``` | ```sqf
for \"_i\" from 0 to COUNT -1 do
{
COMMAND;
};
``` |\n| **Structured Conditional Command** | |\n| ```sqs
? VARIABLE == VALUE_1: goto \"SKIP_1\"
? VARIABLE == VALUE_2: goto \"SKIP_2\"
DEFAULT_COMMAND
goto \"END\"
#SKIP_1
COMMAND_1
goto \"END\"
#SKIP_2
COMMAND_2
#END
``` | ```sqf
switch (VARIABLE) do
{
case VALUE_1:
{ COMMAND_1 };
case VALUE_2:
{ COMMAND_2 };
default
{ DEFAULT_COMMAND };
};
``` |\n| **Exiting** | |\n| ```sqs
? CONDITION : COMMAND_2
? CONDITION : exit
COMMAND_1
``` | ```sqf
if (CONDITION) exitWith { COMMAND_2; };
COMMAND_1;
``` |\n\n### See Also\n\n- SQF Syntax\n- SQS Syntax\n- Introduction to Arma Scripting","sections":[{"heading":null,"level":1,"markdown":"SQF Syntax has been introduced in Operation Flashpoint: Resistance v1.85 and is the Arma series' main scripting language until Arma 3.\nThe main differences with SQS Syntax are:\n\n- **execVM** is used (instead of exec for SQS)\n- Every command has to end with a semicolon (`;`)\n- the following commands disappeared:\n - goto/\n #label (Note, # is a command in itself in Arma 3)\n - exit - a partial SQF equivalent can be found in exitWith\n- Line returns do not impact code\n- SQF can return a variable, where SQS cannot"},{"heading":"Conversion Examples","level":3,"markdown":"| SQS | SQF |\n|---|---|\n| **Comment** | |\n| `; This is a comment`
```sqs
; This is a
; multiline
; comment
```
`comment \"this is a comment\";`
`\"this is a comment\";` | `// This is single-line comment`
```sqf
/*
This is a
multiline
comment
*/
```
`comment \"this is a comment\";`
`\"this is a comment\";` |\n| **Conditional Wait** | |\n| `@CONDITION`
`@ not alive player` | `waitUntil { CONDITION };`
`waitUntil { not alive player };` |\n| **Delay** | |\n| `~DELAY`
`~5` | `sleep DELAY;`
`sleep 5;` |\n| **Conditional Command** | |\n| `? CONDITION : COMMAND`
`? alive player : player setDammage 1` | `if (CONDITION) then { COMMAND };`
`if (alive player) then { player setDammage 1 };` |\n| **Multi-Conditional Command** | |\n| ```sqs
? CONDITION : goto \"SKIP\"
COMMAND_2
goto \"END\"
#SKIP
COMMAND_1
#END
``` | ```sqf
if (CONDITION) then
{
COMMAND_1
}
else
{
COMMAND_2
};
``` |\n| **Cycle** | |\n| ```sqs
#loop
COMMAND
~DELAY
? CONDITION : goto \"LOOP\"
``` | ```sqf
while { CONDITION } do
{
COMMAND;
sleep DELAY;
};
``` |\n| **Cycle With Step** | |\n| ```sqs
_i = 0
#LOOP
COMMAND
_i = _i + 1;
? _i < COUNT : goto \"LOOP\"
``` | ```sqf
for \"_i\" from 0 to COUNT -1 do
{
COMMAND;
};
``` |\n| **Structured Conditional Command** | |\n| ```sqs
? VARIABLE == VALUE_1: goto \"SKIP_1\"
? VARIABLE == VALUE_2: goto \"SKIP_2\"
DEFAULT_COMMAND
goto \"END\"
#SKIP_1
COMMAND_1
goto \"END\"
#SKIP_2
COMMAND_2
#END
``` | ```sqf
switch (VARIABLE) do
{
case VALUE_1:
{ COMMAND_1 };
case VALUE_2:
{ COMMAND_2 };
default
{ DEFAULT_COMMAND };
};
``` |\n| **Exiting** | |\n| ```sqs
? CONDITION : COMMAND_2
? CONDITION : exit
COMMAND_1
``` | ```sqf
if (CONDITION) exitWith { COMMAND_2; };
COMMAND_1;
``` |"},{"heading":"See Also","level":3,"markdown":"- SQF Syntax\n- SQS Syntax\n- Introduction to Arma Scripting"}],"categories":["Syntax"],"groups":["Scripting"]}