This guide assumes you are running a private server (either locally or through a host) and need to modify game mechanics (like loot, events, or trader prices) using JSON configuration files.
The Complete Guide to Installing & Editing DayZ Server JSON Files In DayZ Standalone, the server-side configuration is handled almost entirely through JSON files . These files control everything from the loot economy (how many M4s spawn) to animal spawns, zombie hordes, and weather patterns. Part 1: Locating the Correct Directory Before you can "install" (edit) these files, you must find where your server reads them from. There are two main folders you need to know about: 1. The "Reference" Folder (Do Not Edit Here) Location: DayZServer\mpmissions\dayzOffline.chernarusplus\
This contains the default game files. Do not edit these directly. If you make a syntax error here, you have no backup, and verifying server integrity via Steam will wipe your changes.
2. The "Profile" Folder (Edit Here) This is the correct place to install mods and custom JSONs. This folder is generated by the server launch parameters. dayz json files install
Typical Location: DayZServer\ServerProfile\ (or sometimes Users\YourName\Documents\DayZServer\ ). Inside this folder, look for a path similar to: ServerProfile\mpmissions\dayzOffline.chernarusplus\
How to force the server to use this folder: Check your server startup command (usually in a .bat file). You need the -profiles argument.
Example: start DayZServer_x64.exe -config=serverDZ.cfg -profiles=ServerProfile ... This guide assumes you are running a private
Part 2: The "Override" Method (How to Install) DayZ uses an override system. If a file exists in your Profile folder, the server uses it. If it doesn't, the server uses the default file from the main directory. To "install" a custom JSON file:
Go to the default folder: DayZServer\mpmissions\dayzOffline.chernarusplus\ Copy the specific JSON file you want to edit (e.g., types.xml or events.xml ). Go to your Profile folder: ServerProfile\mpmissions\dayzOffline.chernarusplus\ (create the folders if they don't exist). Paste the file there. Edit the file in the Profile folder.
Part 3: Essential JSON Files & What They Do There are three specific files you will likely want to install and configure immediately. These are found in the db subfolder. 1. types.xml (The Loot Economy) Path: ...mpmissions\dayzOffline.chernarusplus\db\types.xml This is the most edited file. It controls the loot table for every item in the game. Part 1: Locating the Correct Directory Before you
How to increase loot: Find an item (e.g., M4A1 ). Look for the <value> tag.
Tier1 to Tier4 refer to map regions (Coast to NW Airfield). To spawn more, increase the <min> and <nominal> values. To make it spawn on the coast, add <value name="Tier1"/> . <lifetime> controls how long the item sits on the ground before despawning.
