How to Transfer Player Data from a Singleplayer World to a Project Zomboid Server

Project Zomboid servers can upload local worlds and player data to resume any progress made locally. Uploading a world is simple and quick; however, transferring player data requires the user to edit their SQL databases. By transferring existing player data, users can explore various updates and new builds available with their existing characters, provided the saves are compatible.

Requirement: Before starting, follow our World Upload Guide to transfer the local world onto the server.

1. Log in to the BisectHosting Starbase panel.

2. Stop the server.

3. Go to the Files tab.

4. Find the following directory: /home/container/.cache/Saves/Multiplayer .

5. Open the desired World Folder.

6. Download the players.db file from the server.

7. After downloading, Delete the file from the server.

8. In File Explorer, create a new Workspace folder.

9. Place the downloaded file into the Workspace folder.

10. Rename the file to Oldplayers.db .

11. Download SQLite Database Browser from their website.

12. Open DB Browser and press File > Open Database.

13. Locate the created Workspace folder and open the Oldplayers.db file.

14. Go to the Browse Data tab and localPlayers table. If there are players listed on the table, it confirms that this is the correct file.

15. On the player table, copy the X, Y, and Z coordinates for all players to be transferred and paste them into any preferred note taking software, such as Notepad.

16. Right-click on the Data field for players to be transferred and press Copy as SQL.

17. Paste the SQL into the document with the XYZ coordinates.

18. Delete the parenthesis (()) and semicolon (;) from the beginning and end of the string.

19. Return to the BisectHosting Starbase panel.

20. Start the server to generate a new players.db file. 

21. Join the server.

22. Create a character to be replaced later and press Play.

Note: Any other players to be transferred also need to join the server and create a placeholder character.

23. After loading in, Stop the server.

24. Return to the World Folder, and download the new players.db file.

25. After downloading, Delete the file from the server.

26. Place the downloaded file into the Workspace folder.

27. Rename the file to Newplayers.db .

28. Open DB Browser and press File > Open Database.

29. Open the Newplayers.db file from the Workspace folder.

30. Choose the Execute SQL tab.

31. Copy and Paste the following template into the code area:

-- Update player data
UPDATE "main"."REPLACE_WITH_TABLE" -- Select which table you'd like to modify.
SET data = NULL -- Replace “NULL” with value inside the copied SQL command VALUES(); method
WHERE id = 1; -- The ID is the row you're replacing the value of for the character you created earlier.

-- Update player X coord
UPDATE "main"."REPLACE_WITH_TABLE" -- Select which table you'd like to modify.
SET x = 0 -- Replace with the X coordinate of the player.
WHERE id = 1; -- The ID is the row you're replacing the value of for the character you created.

-- Update player Y coord
UPDATE "main"."REPLACE_WITH_TABLE" -- Select which table you'd like to modify.
SET y = 0 -- Replace with the Y coordinate of the player.
WHERE id = 1; -- The ID is the row you're replacing the value of for the character you created.

-- Update player Z coord
UPDATE "main"."REPLACE_WITH_TABLE" -- Select which table you'd like to modify.
SET z = 0 -- Replace with the Z coordinate of the player.
WHERE id = 1; -- The ID is the row you're replacing the value of for the character you created.

32. Replace all "REPLACE_WITH_TABLE" sections with "networkPlayers" .

33. Ensure the WHERE id = is set to the specified players slot on the networkPlayers table.

34. Replace the NULL after SET data = with the SQL Statement for the player, starting from X' .

35. Replace the X, Y, and Z values with the previously noted values from step 16.

36. After replacing all values, press Execute all/selected SQL.

Note: Repeat steps 32-37 for each player to be transferred. Ensure each players slot on the networkPlayers table is kept track of to set their WHERE id =, and ensure their 'SQL' and 'XYZ' matches the info noted from Oldplayers.db . 

37. Choose File and press Write Changes as well as Save All.

38. Navigate to the Workspace folder and rename Newplayers.db to players.db .

39. Return to the BisectHosting Starbase panel.

40. Upload the players.db file to the world folder.

41. Start the server.