---
name: "visibleMap"
type: command
status: ok
groups: ["Map", "Interaction"]
arma3_since: "0.50"
locality: {"argument": null, "effect": null, "server_exec": false}
source: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/visibleMap
revid: 376117
updated: 2025-08-30T17:58:07Z
---

# visibleMap

*Command · Map, Interaction · Arma 3 v0.50 · introduced in Arma 2 v1.00*

## Description

Return true if the main map is shown (active). In Arma 3 it also returns true if the respawn screen map is visible.

## Syntax

```sqf
visibleMap
```

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

## Examples

### Example 1

```sqf
if (visibleMap) then { hint "You're showing the map !" };
```

## See also

[forceMap](../commands/forceMap.md) · [openMap](../commands/openMap.md)

## Community notes

**3.JgKp James** — 2017-11-13

[visibleMap](../commands/visibleMap.md) does not work in all cases where a map might be part of a dialog like in a uav terminal or in a artillery computer dialog.
Some of these cases can be covered with an [addMissionEventHandler](../commands/addMissionEventHandler.md) of type ["Map"](../topics/Mission_Event_Handlers.md#map).
Just use the two magic variables 'mapIsOpened' and 'mapIsForced'. Skeleton might look something like:

```sqf
// update marker as long as map is open (works for UAV stations as well)
J_myGPSEH = addMissionEventHandler ["Map", {

    params ["_mapIsOpened", "_mapIsForced"];

    if (_mapIsOpened) then
    {
        systemChat "GPS active";
        J_var_GPSOn = true;

        // no sheduled environment -> create one
        /* Triggered when map is opened or closed either by user action or script command openMap. */
        0 spawn {
            waitUntil { 
                // ... // do something as long as map is open
                not J_var_GPSOn;
            };
        };
    }
    else
    {
        J_var_GPSOn = false;
        systemChat "GPS inactive";
    };
}];
```

<sub>Source: [BI Community Wiki — visibleMap](https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/visibleMap) (revision 376117).</sub>