Version: 2.3.3.5

Server Management

• Importing an Existing Config
• Using Beacon with Ark Single Player
• Updating Your Nitrado Server
• Updating Your Server With FTP
• Updating Your Server Manually
• Ark Config File Reference
• The Difference Between Deploy and Export

Core Features

• Using Config Sets
• Using Presets to Automate Item Set Creation
• Adding Unsupported Engrams, Creatures, Loot Drops, or Spawn Points to Beacon
• Preset Selectors Guide

Config Editors

• Breeding Multipliers
• Crafting Costs
• Creature Adjustments
• Creature Spawns
• Custom Config
• Day and Night Cycle
• Decay and Spoil
• Engram Control
• Harvest Rates
• Item Stat Limits
• Levels and XP
• Loot Drops
• Stack Sizes
• Stat Multipliers

User Accounts

• Create or Recover Your Account
• Sign Into Beacon
• Activating Beacon Omni
• Sharing Beacon Documents with Other Users
• About User Privacy

Troubleshooting

• Item Quality Is Different Than Expected
• Loot Drops Are Not Working As Intended
• How to Stop Using the Custom Config Editor
• Solving Connection Problems to Beacon or Nitrado
• Beacon System Status

For Developers

• Registering Your Mod With Beacon
• Beacon API Documentation

Beacon's Custom Config editor is a powerful tool that allows Beacon to manage entire ini files. However, for users who want to maintain the ability to make ini changes outside of Beacon, it can be a frustrating feature. This guide will help you safely prevent Beacon from controlling your ini content.

Follow this guide carefully. Failure to do so could result in Beacon clearing your server's ini files. While Beacon does make a backup of config files before deployment, it would be better not to need them.

1. Restore "Custom Config" to Default

Right click the Custom Config item in the editors list of your Beacon project file, then choose Restore "Custom Config" to Default. Beacon will ask you to confirm, which you should accept. Save your project.

2. Remove [Beacon] Groups from Config Files.

Beacon adds a [Beacon] group to both Game.ini and GameUserSettings.ini files. The group informs Beacon which changes it previously made so it can make the correct changes during the next deployment.

You must remove the group and its contents from both config files on your server.

For example, an example GameUserSettings.ini might look like:

[Beacon]
ManagedKeys['ServerSettings']=(DifficultyOffset,OverrideOfficialDifficulty,XPMultiplier)
ManagedKeys['SessionSettings']=(SessionName)
Version=1.1.1

[ServerSettings]
DifficultyOffset=1
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5
XPMultiplier=1.0

[SessionSettings]
SessionName=My Sample Server

After removing the [Beacon] group, the GameUserSettings.ini would look like:

[ServerSettings]
DifficultyOffset=1
OverrideOfficialDifficulty=5
XPMultiplier=1.0

[SessionSettings]
SessionName=My Sample Server

Finished

When you deploy again, Beacon will only make changes to the config editors you're using in Beacon. Your other ini lines will be left alone.

Beacon will add a new [Beacon] group to each of your files, this is normal and ok.