Exporting Server Configuration Files

Generate and download server configuration files for your Project Zomboid dedicated server

Export your modpack as a server configuration file that’s ready to use with Project Zomboid dedicated servers. This guide covers version selection, export configuration, downloading files, and installation on your server.

Overview

PZ Packs generates server configuration files containing three critical sections:

• Mods - Mod IDs in the correct format for your PZ version
• WorkshopItems - Steam Workshop IDs for automatic downloading
• Map - Custom map folders plus default maps

These files can be directly added to your dedicated server configuration to load all mods from your modpack.

Export files are generated in the background and are user-specific. Your export configuration (mod order, variant selection) is saved separately from other team members.

Choosing a Project Zomboid Version

1. Select your server version

   PZ Packs supports two Project Zomboid versions:

   • Build 42.x - Latest unstable/beta branch (recommended for new servers)
   • Build 41.x - Stable branch (for established servers)

   The version you select determines the mod ID format in the generated file.

2. Understand format differences

   Build 42.x format:

   Mods=\ModID1;\ModID2;\ModID3
   

   Build 41.x format:

   Mods=ModID1;ModID2;ModID3
   

   The only difference is the backslash prefix (\) required in Build 42.x.

3. Match your server version

   Choose the version that matches your dedicated server. Using the wrong format will prevent mods from loading correctly.

Configuring Export Settings

Before exporting, you can customize how mods are included in your server file.

Mod Load Order

Mod order can affect gameplay and compatibility:

1. Set your preferred load order

   Configure modsOrder to specify the exact sequence mods should load. This is saved in your personal export configuration.

   {
     "modsOrder": ["mod-id-1", "mod-id-2", "mod-id-3"]
   }
   
2. Order importance

   • Load order matters for mods that override similar game files
   • Map mods typically load first
   • Dependency mods should load before mods that require them
   • PZ Packs respects your configured order in the generated file

Selecting Mod Variants

Some Workshop items contain multiple mod IDs (variants or optional components):

1. Review mods with multiple variants

   Mods with multiple Steam Mod IDs appear with checkboxes or selection options in the export configuration.

2. Configure variant selection

   Use the modConfig setting to choose which variants to include:

   {
     "modConfig": {
       "mod-id-123": {
         "selectedSteamModIds": ["variant1", "variant2"]
       }
     }
   }
   

   Only the selected variants will appear in the exported file.

3. Exclude mods entirely

   To skip a mod completely, deselect all its variants:

   {
     "modConfig": {
       "mod-id-456": {
         "selectedSteamModIds": []
       }
     }
   }
   

   This mod won’t appear in Mods=, WorkshopItems=, or Map= sections.

Saving Export Configuration

Your export configuration is saved per user and per modpack:

• Configuration persists between exports
• Changes only affect your exports, not other team members
• Modpack owner can set default configuration for all members

Save your export configuration after adjusting mod order or variants. This ensures consistent exports every time without reconfiguring.

Requesting a Server File Export

1. Navigate to the export dialog

   On your modpack page, click the “Export” or “Download Server File” button.

2. Select Project Zomboid version

   Choose between Build 42.x or Build 41.x from the version dropdown.

3. Submit export request

   Click “Export” to queue the file generation.

   The system will:

   • Create an export request in the database
   • Add a background job to generate the file
   • Return an export ID for tracking
4. Wait for generation

   File generation typically takes a few seconds. Large modpacks (100+ mods) may take longer.

   Status updates:

   • Pending - Export is queued or generating
   • Completed - File is ready for download
   • Failed - An error occurred during generation

Understanding the Generated File

The exported file contains three sections:

Mods Section

Lists all mod IDs in the format appropriate for your selected version:

Mods=\ModID1;\ModID2;\ModID3

• Includes selected variants only
• Duplicates are automatically removed
• Order matches your modsOrder configuration

WorkshopItems Section

Lists Steam Workshop IDs for automatic mod downloading:

WorkshopItems=123456789;987654321;555555555

• Contains Workshop IDs from all included mods
• Used by the server to auto-download mods from Steam
• Duplicates are automatically removed

Map Section

Includes custom map folders plus the default Muldraugh map:

Map=CustomMap1;CustomMap2;Muldraugh, KY

• Automatically includes Muldraugh, KY as the default spawn
• Custom map folders are extracted from mod metadata
• Only includes maps from active, selected mods

The default map “Muldraugh, KY” is always included. Remove it manually if you want a custom map-only server.

Downloading the Server File

1. Wait for completion

   When the export status shows “Completed”, the download button becomes available.

2. Download the file

   Click the download button to retrieve your server configuration file.

   The file is a plain text .ini file containing the three configuration sections.

3. Verify file contents

   Open the file in a text editor and verify:

   • All expected mods are listed
   • The mod ID format matches your server version (backslashes for 42.x)
   • Workshop IDs are present
   • Map sections look correct

Installing on Your Project Zomboid Server

1. Locate your server configuration file

   On your dedicated server, find the server configuration file:

   Windows:

   C:\Users\YourUser\Zomboid\Server\ServerName.ini
   

   Linux:

   ~/.config/ProjectZomboid/Server/ServerName.ini
   
2. Backup existing configuration

   Before making changes, create a backup:

   cp ServerName.ini ServerName.ini.backup
   
3. Update configuration sections

   Open your server’s .ini file and find these lines:

   Mods=
   Map=
   WorkshopItems=
   

   Replace them with the values from your exported file.

4. Restart the server

   Restart your Project Zomboid dedicated server to load the new mods.

   On first launch:

   • Server downloads all Workshop items from Steam
   • This can take several minutes for large mod lists
   • Monitor server logs for download progress
5. Verify mods loaded

   Check your server logs for:

   Loaded mod: ModID1
   Loaded mod: ModID2
   ...
   

   All mods from your export should appear as loaded.

If any mods fail to load, check:

• Workshop items downloaded successfully
• Mod IDs match the format for your server version
• No conflicting mods in the list
• Server version matches the export version (41.x or 42.x)

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Mods Not Loading

Issue: Server starts but mods don’t load

Solutions:

• Verify the Mods= format matches your server version
• Build 42.x requires backslash prefix: \ModID
• Build 41.x has no prefix: ModID
• Check that Workshop items downloaded (look in server logs)

Workshop Download Failures

Issue: Some Workshop items fail to download

Solutions:

• Verify your server has Steam Workshop access enabled
• Check if the Workshop item was removed from Steam
• Try manually subscribing to the Workshop item
• Remove the problematic Workshop ID from the config

Map Not Loading

Issue: Custom maps don’t appear in-game

Solutions:

• Ensure map mods are in both Mods= and WorkshopItems=
• Verify the map folder name in Map= is correct
• Some maps require specific load order - try loading them first
• Check mod description for special installation instructions

Export Fails

Issue: Export status shows “Failed”

Solutions:

• Try exporting again (temporary server issue)
• Verify all mods in the modpack are valid
• Check for mods with missing metadata
• Contact support if the issue persists

Best Practices

1. Regular exports

   Re-export whenever you add or remove mods from your modpack to keep your server in sync.

2. Test before production

   Test exported configurations on a development server before deploying to production.

3. Version consistency

   Keep your server version and export version in sync. Don’t mix 41.x exports with 42.x servers.

4. Document custom changes

   If you manually edit the exported file, document your changes so you can reapply them after future exports.

5. Share with team

   Team members can export the same modpack with their own configurations. Coordinate load order for consistency.

Related Resources

• Importing from Steam - Add mods to your modpack from Steam Workshop
• Managing Permissions - Control who can modify and export your modpack
• API Reference: Export Server File - API documentation for exports