Importing from Steam Workshop

Step-by-step guide to import mods from Steam Workshop collections into your modpack

Import your entire Steam Workshop collection into PZ Packs with just a URL. This guide walks you through finding your collection URL, starting the import process, and monitoring the import status.

Overview

The Steam import feature automatically scrapes all mods from a Steam Workshop collection and adds them to your modpack. The process runs in the background and can take several minutes depending on the collection size.

You must be the owner or a member of the modpack to import mods. Public modpacks cannot be modified by non-members.

Finding Your Steam Collection URL

1. Navigate to your Steam Workshop collection

   Open Steam and go to the Project Zomboid Workshop, then navigate to your collection or find the collection you want to import.

2. Copy the collection URL

   Copy the full URL from your browser’s address bar. It should look like:

   https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=123456789
   

   The URL must:

   • Be from steamcommunity.com domain
   • Contain the ?id= parameter with your collection ID
   • Point to a collection (not an individual mod)
3. Verify it's a collection

   Make sure the page shows “Collection” at the top, not “Mod”. Individual mod pages cannot be imported - only collections.

Starting the Import Process

1. Open your modpack

   Navigate to your modpack page in PZ Packs. You’ll see an “Import from Steam” button or option in the modpack controls.

2. Enter the Steam Collection URL

   Click the import button and paste your Steam Workshop collection URL into the text field.

   The form validates that:

   • The URL is properly formatted
   • The domain is steamcommunity.com
   • The URL contains a valid collection ID
3. Submit the import request

   Click “Import Modpack” to start the background import process.

   You’ll receive a confirmation message:

   “The modpack is being imported in the background; this may take a few minutes. You will be notified when it is finished.”

What Happens During Import

When you submit an import request, PZ Packs:

1. Validates the URL - Checks that the URL points to a valid Steam Workshop collection
2. Scrapes collection data - Retrieves all mod Workshop IDs from the collection page
3. Processes each mod - For every mod in the collection:
   • Fetches mod metadata from Steam
   • Extracts mod information (name, description, Workshop ID, etc.)
   • Checks for map folders and dependencies
   • Adds the mod to your modpack
4. Handles dependencies - Automatically includes required dependencies for multi-part mods
5. Tracks progress - Updates the import status as mods are processed

The import process uses a background job queue, so you can close the page and come back later. Your import will continue running.

Monitoring Import Status

The import status is displayed in real-time on your modpack page:

Status Types

• Idle - No import is currently running
• Waiting - Import job is queued and waiting to start
• Active - Import is currently processing mods
• Completed - All mods have been successfully imported
• Failed - The import encountered an error and stopped

Tracking Progress

While the import is running:

• The status polls automatically every 2 seconds
• Your modpack’s mod list refreshes when import completes
• A notification appears when the process finishes

Only one import can run per modpack at a time. If you start a new import, it will replace any existing import job for that modpack.

Handling Import Errors

Common Issues

“Invalid Steam URL”

• Verify the URL is from steamcommunity.com
• Ensure the URL contains the ?id= parameter
• Check that you copied the complete URL

“The provided URL is not a Steam Collection”

• You may have provided a link to an individual mod instead of a collection
• Collections show “Collection” at the top of the Steam Workshop page
• Individual mods must be added manually or as part of a collection

“You do not have permission to edit this modpack”

• Only the modpack owner and active members can import mods
• Request the owner to add you as a member first
• Check that the modpack is not archived (inactive)

“Modpack is not active”

• The modpack has been archived
• Contact the owner to reactivate it before importing

Partial Import Failures

If some mods fail to import but others succeed:

• The import will continue processing remaining mods
• Successfully imported mods are added to your modpack
• Error details are logged for failed mods
• You can manually add any failed mods later

After a successful import, review your modpack to ensure all expected mods were added. Some mods may fail to import if they’ve been removed from Steam Workshop.

Import Results

When the import completes successfully, you’ll see:

• Added mods count - Number of mods successfully imported
• Errors list - Any mods that failed to import with error messages
• Updated mod list - Your modpack automatically refreshes to show new mods

Best Practices

1. Review before importing

   Check the Steam collection page to verify it contains the mods you want. Large collections may take several minutes to import.

2. Monitor the import

   Stay on the page for the first minute to ensure the import starts successfully and doesn’t immediately fail.

3. Verify mod count

   After import completes, compare the number of added mods to the collection size to ensure all mods were imported.

4. Configure export settings

   After importing, review your export configuration to set mod load order and select specific mod variants.

Related Resources

• Managing Modpack Permissions - Control who can import mods to your modpack
• Exporting Server Files - Generate server configuration files from your imported mods
• API Reference: Import Modpack - API documentation for the import endpoint