---
name: "ctrlMapScale"
type: command
status: ok
groups: ["GUI Control - Map"]
arma3_since: "0.50"
locality: {"argument": null, "effect": null, "server_exec": false}
source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/ctrlMapScale
revid: 378435
updated: 2026-04-07T21:06:22Z
---

# ctrlMapScale

*Command · GUI Control - Map · Arma 3 v0.50 · introduced in Armed Assault v1.00*

## Description

Returns the current scale of given map control.

## Syntax

```sqf
ctrlMapScale ctrl
```

**Parameters:**

- `ctrl`: [Control](../topics/Control.md)

**Returns:** [Number](../topics/Number.md)

## Examples

### Example 1

```sqf
_control = (findDisplay 12) displayCtrl 51; // Arma 3
_scale = ctrlMapScale _control; // returns number from 1 to 0.001
```

## See also

[ctrlScale](../commands/ctrlScale.md) · [ctrlSetScale](../commands/ctrlSetScale.md) · [ctrlMapDir](../commands/ctrlMapDir.md)

## Community notes

**Veteran29** — 2024-10-07

Following formula can be used to calculate current "zoom points", these can be used to hide/show icons at the same thresholds as the native map icons:

```sqf
800 * (1 / ctrlMapScale _ctrlMap) * (1 / getTerrainInfo#1)
```

The thresholds are defined in
ptsPerSquare* ctrl map properties, e.g:

```sqf
getNumber (configFile >> "ctrlMap" >> "ptsPerSquareObj")
```

<sub>Source: [BI Community Wiki — ctrlMapScale](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/ctrlMapScale) (revision 378435).</sub>