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Using Conditional Statements in Messages

Conditional Messages

iReporter supports conditional message lines using a simple bracket syntax. Place a condition in parentheses at the start of any message field — if the condition is false at press time, that line is silently skipped and nothing is sent for it.

Syntax

(condition)message text here

Everything after the closing ) is sent only when the condition is true. No closing tag needed — the condition applies to the whole line.

Example

(GAPBEHIND1<2)/msg {CARBEHIND1} Car {CAR#} is pitting this lap!

This sends a private message to the car immediately behind only if it is within 2 seconds. If the gap is greater the line is skipped entirely and nothing is sent.

AND and OR

Combine multiple conditions on the one line using && (AND) or || (OR). AND is evaluated before OR.

Example Sends when (CRASH && GAPBEHIND1<5)/rc Contact near traffic! A crash is active AND car 1 behind is within 5s (CRASH || INCIDENT)/rc Incident detected! A crash OR an incident is currently active (FLAG=Yellow && GAPHEAD<3)/rc Yellow — tight ahead! Yellow flag AND less than 3s to car ahead

You can also write AND and OR in plain English instead of && and ||.

Available Conditions

Crash and Incident

Condition True when CRASH A crash is currently detected NOCRASH No crash is currently active INCIDENT An incident is currently detected NOINCIDENT No incident is currently active

Gap Conditions

Replace N with any number of seconds. Operators: < > <= >=

Condition True when GAPHEAD<N or GAPHEAD1<N Gap to 1st car ahead is less than N seconds GAPHEAD2<N Gap to 2nd car ahead is less than N seconds GAPHEAD3<N Gap to 3rd car ahead is less than N seconds GAPBEHIND<N or GAPBEHIND1<N Gap to 1st car behind is less than N seconds GAPBEHIND2<N Gap to 2nd car behind is less than N seconds GAPBEHIND3<N Gap to 3rd car behind is less than N seconds

Flag Condition

Condition True when FLAG=Yellow Current flag is Yellow / Caution FLAG=Green Current flag is Green (racing) FLAG=Red Current flag is Red FLAG=White Current flag is White (final lap) FLAG=Checkered Current flag is Checkered

Practical Examples

Notify close cars when pitting

Field Content Message 1 /rc Car {CAR#}, {DRIVER} Pitting this LAP Message 2 (GAPBEHIND1<2)/msg {CARBEHIND1} Car {CAR#} pitting this LAP! Message 3 (GAPBEHIND2<3)/msg {CARBEHIND2} Car {CAR#} pitting this LAP!

Message 1 always fires. Messages 2 and 3 fire only when the cars behind are within the gap threshold — each sends a separate private message.

Flag-aware status

Field Content Message 1 (FLAG=Yellow)/rc Yellow flag — Car {CAR#} Lap {CARLAP} holding position Message 2 (FLAG=Green)/rc Racing — Car {CAR#} Lap {CARLAP}

Combined condition

(CRASH && GAPBEHIND1<5)/rc Contact AND close traffic behind — Car {CARBEHIND1} at risk

Using the Variable Picker

Type ( in any message box to open the variable picker and browse all available conditions. AND / OR examples are included at the bottom of the list.

Backward Compatibility

The older {IF:condition}text{ENDIF} syntax is still fully supported for any messages you have already saved.

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