Ark Server File: GameUserSettings.ini Resets when starting server Jan,3,2017 HELP

[OldManRehnaldo]

Hi Guys i really need some help here as I'm a little stumped at the moment. I recently just setup a ark server from a Youtube tutorial and have set it up just fine. everything is installed and i can even join with my fiends.

Problem is i can't configure the "GameUserSettings" file with out it resetting every time the server starts backup

Things I've tried trouble shooting with
-Using Notepad++ to edit and save file
-Right click file Properties/General/Attributes/ Check off Read-only
-Using a third Party file maker such as an ark "GameUserSettings" generator = https://ini.arkforum.de/index.php?lang=en&mode=all
-only Setting the games settings such as "Setting" =3.00000 and going no higher
-insuring file is not corrupt
-verifying server files
-running as Admin

So I'm a little lost with this one, I'm no stranger to hosting servers but i don't know enough about ARK yet to fully trouble shoot the game files Any and all help is greatly appreciate on this topic as there are a lot of forums out there already from July 2015ish that just kinda drift of or become abandon.

Thanks OldMan Rehnaldo

[Nutcutt3r]

Are you using the correct Server.settings header? If there are typos I have seen it wipe the file every time.

[🦊 Hermit]

Is this a server hosted on your home machine? If so, what is the file path of the gameusersettings file you are editing? There's quite a few of them in Ark's folder structure, and it's possible you may be editing the wrong one?

[OldManRehnaldo]

Thanks for the reply yes it is running on a different computer as a dedicated host "SteamCMD"
in terms of file path i believe it is setup correctly, i only have a 500GB drive but it is using separate partitions 250GB each ark is installed on the seconded drive know as Local disk D: and Windows 7 with SteamCMD is installed on Local Disk C:.

File path is D:/Ark Server/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/GameUserSettings.ini

The "StartServer.bat" file is in the ark file and i have it setup like this
- start ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?SessionName=NameOfSession?Port=27015?QueryPort=27016?listen

And to update and install ark i used this method for running the installtion UpdateARK.bat
- @echo off
start "" steamcmd.exe +login steamID password +force_install_dir "d:\Ark Server" +app_update 346110 validate +quit

as for the spelling/code mistakes I don't believe i misspelled anything but is there anything that may cause an issue other than space and tab errors as well as having a empty line on the bottom? i will post the fill if need be

[OldManRehnaldo]

[ServerSettings]
allowThirdPersonPlayer=1
AllowCaveBuildingPvE=1
alwaysNotifyPlayerJoined=1
alwaysNotifyPlayerLeft=1
bAllowFlyerCarryPvE=1
bDisableStructureDecayPvE=1
DayCycleSpeedScale=0.50000
DayTimeSpeedScale=0.50000
NightTimeSpeedScale=3.00000
DinoCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=0.50000
DinoCharacterHealthRecoveryMultiplier=3.00000
DinoCharacterStaminaDrainMultiplier=0.50000
DinoCountMultiplier=1.00000
DinoDamageMultiplier=1.00000
DinoResistanceMultiplier=1.00000
globalVoiceChat=0
HarvestAmountMultiplier=3.00000
HarvestHealthMultiplier=3.00000
MaxStructuresInRange=6700
noTributeDownloads=1
PreventDownloadSurvivors=1
PreventDownloadItems=1
PreventDownloadDinos=1
PlayerCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=0.50000
PlayerCharacterHealthRecoveryMultiplier=3.00000
PlayerCharacterStaminaDrainMultiplier=0.50000
PlayerCharacterWaterDrainMultiplier=0.50000
PlayerDamageMultiplier=1.00000
PlayerResistanceMultiplier=1.00000
proximityChat=1
ResourceNoReplenishRadiusPlayers=1.00000
ResourceNoReplenishRadiusStructures=1.00000
ResourcesRespawnPeriodMultiplier=0.50000
ServerAdminPassword=something
ServerCrosshair=1
serverForceNoHud=1
serverHardcore=0
ServerPassword=password
serverPVE=1
ShowMapPlayerLocation=1
StructureDamageMultiplier=1.00000
StructureResistanceMultiplier=1.00000
TamedDinoDamageMultiplier=3.00000
TamedDinoResistanceMultiplier=1.00000
TamingSpeedMultiplier=3.00000
XPMultiplier=3.00000
EnablePVPGamma=0
EnablePVEGamma=1
SpectatorPassword=neyney
DifficultyOffset=0.50000
PvEStructureDecayPeriodMultiplier=1.00000
PvEStructureDecayDestructionPeriod=1.00000
Banlist="http://playark.com/banlist.txt"
PvPStructureDecay=0
DisableDinoDecayPvE=0
PvEDinoDecayPeriodMultiplier=1.00000
AdminLogging=0
MaxTamedDinos=8000
MaxNumbersofPlayersInTribe=2
BattleNumOfTribestoStartGame=2
TimeToCollapseROD=100
BattleAutoStartGameInterval=100
BattleSuddenDeathInterval=300
KickIdlePlayersPeriod=1800
PerPlatformMaxStructuresMultiplier=1.00000
StructureDamageRepairCooldown=180
bForceAllStructureLocking=1
AutoDestroyOldStructuresMultiplier=0.00000
bUseVSync=0
MaxPlatformSaddleStructureLimit=100
bPassiveDefensesDamageRiderlessDinos=1
RCONPort=27020
AutoSavePeriodMinutes=20
RCONServerGameLogBuffer=600
OverrideStructurePlatformPrevention=0
bPreventOfflinePvP=1
PreventOfflinePvPInterval=60.0
bPvPDinoDecay=1
bPvPStructureDecay=1
DisableImprintDinoBuff=1
AllowAnyoneBabyImprintCuddle=1
EnableExtraStructurePreventionVolumes=1
ShowFloatingDamageText=1
DestroyUnconnectedWaterPipes=0
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=1.0
TheMaxStructuresInRange=10500
MinimumDinoReuploadInterval=0
PvEAllowStructuresAtSupplyDrops=0
[/script/engine.gamesession]
MaxPlayers=12
[SessionSettings]
SessionName=SessionName
[MessageOfTheDay]
Duration=30
Message=Welcome To Jurassic ARK

[🦊 Hermit]

Well, I'm by no means an expert, but that file path and code look ok to me. Perhaps posting the file up would help to diagnose the problem, yeah...

EDIT: Oh you did lol. Let's have a look.

EDIT2: I'm not sure if this would make a difference, but I always thought the boolean values in the config files had to be represented by the words 'True' and 'False' as opposed to numeric 1 and 0? That's what I've always used myself, and what the wiki seems to imply (although it doesn't explicitly state that). Might that be why the game isn't recognising some of the fields and so wiping the file?

[OldManRehnaldo]

Ok thanks ill give it a try and ill get back to you guys in a few.

[OldManRehnaldo]

Ok so I have done the test with true - false substituting 1 - 0 and the file over write itself again but is that truly what 1 - 0 do as i notice when i check the over written file it had true and false in it as well as 1 - 0, perhaps there is an alternate meaning for the numbers in the setting file. As for the over written file I'm going to upload that as well because there may be something I'm missing from the problem that you guys may find

[OldManRehnaldo]

ServerSettings]
ServerCrosshair=True
RCONPort=27020
TheMaxStructuresInRange=10500.000000
StructurePreventResourceRadiusMultiplier=1.000000
RaidDinoCharacterFoodDrainMultiplier=1.000000
PvEDinoDecayPeriodMultiplier=1.000000
KickIdlePlayersPeriod=3600.000000
PerPlatformMaxStructuresMultiplier=1.000000
AutoSavePeriodMinutes=30.000000
ListenServerTetherDistanceMultiplier=1.000000
MaxTamedDinos=5000.000000
RCONServerGameLogBuffer=600.000000
AllowHitMarkers=True

[/script/shootergame.shootergameusersettings]
MasterAudioVolume=1.000000
MusicAudioVolume=1.000000
SFXAudioVolume=1.000000
VoiceAudioVolume=1.000000
CameraShakeScale=1.000000
bFirstPersonRiding=False
bThirdPersonPlayer=False
bShowStatusNotificationMessages=True
TrueSkyQuality=0.700000
FOVMultiplier=1.000000
GroundClutterDensity=1.000000
bFilmGrain=False
bMotionBlur=False
bUseDFAO=False
bUseSSAO=True
bShowChatBox=True
bCameraViewBob=True
bInvertLookY=False
bFloatingNames=True
bChatBubbles=True
bHideServerInfo=False
bJoinNotifications=False
bCraftablesShowAllItems=True
bLocalInventoryShowAllItems=False
bRemoteInventoryShowAllItems=False
LookLeftRightSensitivity=1.000000
LookUpDownSensitivity=1.000000
GraphicsQuality=1
ActiveLingeringWorldTiles=7
ClientNetQuality=3
LastServerSearchType=0
LastDLCTypeSearchType=-1
LastServerSearchHideFull=False
LastServerSearchProtected=False
HideItemTextOverlay=False
bDistanceFieldShadowing=True
LODScalar=1.000000
bToggleToTalk=False
HighQualityMaterials=True
HighQualitySurfaces=True
bTemperatureF=False
bDisableTorporEffect=False
bChatShowSteamName=False
bChatShowTribeName=True
EmoteKeyBind1=0
EmoteKeyBind2=0
bNoBloodEffects=False
bLowQualityVFX=False
bSpectatorManualFloatingNames=False
bSuppressAdminIcon=False
bUseSimpleDistanceMovement=False
bDisableMeleeCameraSwingAnims=False
bHighQualityAnisotropicFiltering=False
bUseLowQualityLevelStreaming=True
bPreventInventoryOpeningSounds=False
bPreventItemCraftingSounds=False
bPreventHitMarkers=False
bPreventCrosshair=False
bPreventColorizedItemNames=False
bHighQualityLODs=False
bExtraLevelStreamingDistance=False
bEnableColorGrading=True
DOFSettingInterpTime=0.000000
bDisableBloom=False
bDisableLightShafts=False
LastPVESearchType=-1
bUseVSync=False
MacroCtrl0=
MacroCtrl1=
MacroCtrl2=
MacroCtrl3=
MacroCtrl4=
MacroCtrl5=
MacroCtrl6=
MacroCtrl7=
MacroCtrl8=
MacroCtrl9=
ResolutionSizeX=1280
ResolutionSizeY=720
LastUserConfirmedResolutionSizeX=1280
LastUserConfirmedResolutionSizeY=720
WindowPosX=-1
WindowPosY=-1
bUseDesktopResolutionForFullscreen=False
FullscreenMode=2
LastConfirmedFullscreenMode=2
Version=5

[ScalabilityGroups]
sg.ResolutionQuality=100
sg.ViewDistanceQuality=3
sg.AntiAliasingQuality=3
sg.ShadowQuality=3
sg.PostProcessQuality=3
sg.TextureQuality=3
sg.EffectsQuality=3
sg.TrueSkyQuality=3
sg.GroundClutterQuality=3
sg.IBLQuality=1
sg.HeightFieldShadowQuality=3
sg.GroundClutterRadius=10000

[SessionSettings]
SessionName=Nameofsession

[/script/engine.gamesession]
MaxPlayers=70

[🦊 Hermit]

Did you try running the server once, so it auto-generates all the other options [shootergameusersettings]. [scalabillitygroups] etc, then adding in your own options after that, leaving those other ones in? Kinda clutching at straws I'm afraid because I can't see any other issue, hope somebody else has an idea too...

[OldManRehnaldo]

I did do that as well just out of curiosity and no that made no difference sadly. However I was doing some more forum hunting as well i may have found a solution for the problem, it sound like there are multiple files that control different elements of the server. I'm going to have to tinker around with this just to make sure

[OldManRehnaldo]

Hey guys I was able to resolve the issues i was having and have determined that the GameUserSettings.ini Can be configure with non critical game data such as a password or a welcome message. However critical game data or values such as how many players can connect, port numbers "Example: 27015,27016," The game session name etc. cannot be edited there. i was able to edit that data in the StartServer.bat file and was able fix my issues. Now I'm not sure if this is the case for every one but in my instance it was

This is what i change to edit my setup=
- start ShooterGameServer.exe TheIsland?SessionName=NameOfSession?MaxPlayers=YourValue?Port=27015?QueryPort=27016?listen

This change the value in the GameUserSettings from its default "70" to my value of choice After Editing the StartServer.bat file. Now as for my password that was change with no problem in the GameUserSetings "ServerPassword=Password"

So if I had to guess why this is doing this there is a file located some were else in the game that is dictating the GameUserSettings.ini to load its values if it isn't what it says it is. However by editing the StartServer.bat file with the setting of your choice you are over riding that file or rewriting it to work with your needs. I hope this help some of you out there and if anyone knows what file that happens to be post the file location in the comments

Thanks Again, OldMan Rehnaldo

[🦊 Hermit]

Glad you got it working in the end^^ Sorry we couldn't be much more help.

[Famished]

My son and I had a similar problem to this today. Turned out it was the order in which we were loading the mods. Changed the order and it worked fine.

[Sally]

Originally posted by Famished:

My son and I had a similar problem to this today. Turned out it was the order in which we were loading the mods. Changed the order and it worked fine.

OMG you have no idea how much you just saved my ass with this <3333