---
name: "sideChat"
type: command
status: ok
groups: ["Radio and Chat"]
arma3_since: "0.50"
locality: {"argument": "global", "effect": "local", "server_exec": false}
source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/sideChat
revid: 376777
updated: 2025-11-17T00:06:09Z
---

# sideChat

*Command · Radio and Chat · Arma 3 v0.50 · introduced in Operation Flashpoint v1.34*

Locality: arguments **global** · effect **local**

## Description

Types text to the side radio channel by the specified unit. Use [clearRadio](../commands/clearRadio.md) to clear chat history

> [!IMPORTANT]
> The unit must have an [assigned](../commands/assignItem.md) radio item (such as ***"ItemRadio"***) to see or transmit the messages. A radio item must have the property 
>
> ```cpp
> simulation = "ItemRadio";
> ```
>
>  in its CfgWeapons config.

## Syntax

### Syntax 1

```sqf
unit sideChat chatText
```

**Parameters:**

- `unit`: [Object](../topics/Object.md) - unit transmitting message
- `chatText`: [String](../topics/String.md) - message to transmit

**Returns:** [Nothing](../topics/Nothing.md)

### Syntax 2

```sqf
[side, identity] sideChat chatText
```

**Parameters:**

- `side`: [Side](../topics/Side.md) - side to which the message will be seen
- `identity`: [String](../topics/String.md) - class name of one of the identities in CfgHQIdentities. Possible identities in Arma 3 are:
  - "Base"
  - "HQ"
  - "PAPA_BEAR"
  - "AirBase"
  - "BLU"
  - "OPF"
  - "IND"
  - "IND_G"
- `chatText`: [String](../topics/String.md) - message to transmit

**Returns:** [Nothing](../topics/Nothing.md)

## Examples

### Example 1

```sqf
_soldierOne sideChat "Show this text";
```

### Example 2

```sqf
[west, "HQ"] sideChat "Hi there";
```

### Example 3

```sqf
driver vehicle player sideChat "sideChat";
driver vehicle player globalChat "globalChat";
driver vehicle player groupChat "groupChat";
vehicle player vehicleChat "vehicleChat";
driver vehicle player commandChat "commandChat";
driver vehicle player customChat [1, "customChat"];
systemChat "systemChat";
```

### Example 4

```sqf
[[blufor, "BLU"], "message"] remoteExec ["sideChat"]; // shows the message to all players
```

### Example 5

```sqf
unit setGroupId ["Cpt. Miller"]; // changes the group's callsign
unit sideChat "Hello ladies!";
```

## See also

[globalChat](../commands/globalChat.md) · [groupChat](../commands/groupChat.md) · [vehicleChat](../commands/vehicleChat.md) · [commandChat](../commands/commandChat.md) · [customChat](../commands/customChat.md) · [systemChat](../commands/systemChat.md) · [sideRadio](../commands/sideRadio.md)

## Community notes

**Ceeeb** — 2007-02-12

In **Operation Flashpoint v1.96**, [sideChat](../commands/sideChat.md) messages can be sent from two abstract sources: "Papa_Bear" and "Base FireFly".

Use [sideChat](../commands/sideChat.md) on an array in the form [SIDE, "base"], [SIDE, "HQ"], [SIDE, "Papa_bear"] or [SIDE, "airbase"], where SIDE is the [side](../commands/side.md) broadcasting. "HQ", "base" and "Papa_bear" seem to be the same object. The callsign strings can be re-defined using a stringTable.csv file, using `STR_CFG_PAPABEAR` and `STR_CFG_FIREFLYBASE`.

Example :

```sqf
[east, "base"] sideChat "Return to base!"
```

<sub>Source: [BI Community Wiki — sideChat](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/sideChat) (revision 376777).</sub>