Trackmania Match Settings and Custom Maps on a Dedicated Server

Q: Where is the Trackmania match settings file?

Under UserData/Maps, usually in MatchSettings/. The server's /gamesettings argument points to it, relative to UserData/Maps.

Q: How do I change the game mode on a Trackmania server?

Change in the match settings file, for example to Trackmania/TMCupOnline.Script.txt, adjust the S settings and restart.

Q: How do I shuffle maps on my server?

Set randommaporder to 1 in the block.

A Trackmania dedicated server's mode and track list come from its match settings file, an XML playlist under UserData/Maps. Set the mode in <script_name> (for example Trackmania/TM_Rounds_Online.Script.txt), tune it with S_ settings inside <mode_script_settings>, and list each track as a <map><file> path relative to UserData/Maps. Upload .Map.Gbx files from Trackmania Exchange or your club into that folder, add them to the file, and restart the server.

A Trackmania car mid jump on a custom track

Where the file lives

The server is started with /game_settings=<file>, and that path is relative to UserData/Maps. Nadeo's package includes an example at UserData/Maps/MatchSettings/example.txt, and most people copy it and edit the copy.

UserData/
  Maps/
    MatchSettings/
      club-cup.txt
    MyClub/
      round1.Map.Gbx
      round2.Map.Gbx

With that layout, the server starts with /game_settings=MatchSettings/club-cup.txt and the maps are listed as MyClub/round1.Map.Gbx. If you have not set up the server itself yet, start with how to host a Trackmania server.

The structure of a match settings file

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<playlist>
  <gameinfos>
    <game_mode>0</game_mode>
    <script_name>Trackmania/TM_Rounds_Online.Script.txt</script_name>
  </gameinfos>
  <filter>
    <random_map_order>0</random_map_order>
  </filter>
  <mode_script_settings>
    <setting name="S_PointsLimit" type="integer" value="50"/>
    <setting name="S_RoundsPerMap" type="integer" value="5"/>
    <setting name="S_FinishTimeout" type="integer" value="10"/>
    <setting name="S_WarmUpNb" type="integer" value="1"/>
  </mode_script_settings>
  <startindex>0</startindex>
  <map><file>MyClub/round1.Map.Gbx</file></map>
  <map><file>MyClub/round2.Map.Gbx</file></map>
</playlist>

Block	What it does
`<game_mode>`	Leave at `0`, which means "use the script below"
`<script_name>`	The game mode
`<filter>`	`random_map_order` set to `1` shuffles the list
`<mode_script_settings>`	The mode's options, each an `S_` setting with a type and value
`<startindex>`	Which map in the list plays first, from `0`
`<map>`	One per track, path relative to `UserData/Maps`

Picking a mode

The common online modes, by script name:

Mode	Script	Good for
Time Attack	`Trackmania/TM_TimeAttack_Online.Script.txt`	Training, hot lapping, open club rooms
Rounds	`Trackmania/TM_Rounds_Online.Script.txt`	Everyone starts together, points per finish position
Cup	`Trackmania/TM_Cup_Online.Script.txt`	Tournaments. Reach the points limit, then win a round to take the cup
Knockout	`Trackmania/TM_Knockout_Online.Script.txt`	Last players each round are eliminated
Laps	`Trackmania/TM_Laps_Online.Script.txt`	Multi lap tracks
Teams	`Trackmania/TM_Teams_Online.Script.txt`	Two teams scoring together

Time Attack is the forgiving default for a room people drop into. Rounds and Cup make event nights feel like an event.

Settings worth knowing

Each mode has its own set, and an unknown setting is ignored. These are the ones clubs change most:

Setting	Modes	Meaning
`S_TimeLimit`	Time Attack	Seconds per map
`S_PointsLimit`	Rounds, Cup, Teams	Points needed to win or reach finalist
`S_RoundsPerMap`	Rounds, Cup	Rounds before moving to the next map
`S_FinishTimeout`	Rounds, Cup, Knockout	Seconds others get after the first player finishes
`S_WarmUpNb`	Most	Number of warm up rounds
`S_WarmUpDuration`	Most	Length of each warm up in seconds
`S_ForceLapsNb`	Laps, Rounds	Forces a lap count on multi lap tracks

Types must match: integers as type="integer", true or false values as type="boolean", text as type="text". A setting with the wrong type is the usual reason a value "does nothing."

Adding custom maps

Get the files. Trackmania Exchange (trackmania.exchange) hosts community maps as .Map.Gbx downloads. Club map packs and your own editor maps work the same way.
Upload them into UserData/Maps, ideally in a subfolder per pack, for example UserData/Maps/WinterCup/. On a remote server, use SFTP; our SFTP guide covers the basics.
List them in the match settings file with the relative path: <map><file>WinterCup/r1.Map.Gbx</file></map>.
Restart the server so it reads the new list.

The single most common mistake: uploading maps and never adding them to the match settings file. The server only plays what is listed. The second most common: a path typo or wrong case. Linux servers treat WinterCup and wintercup as different folders.

Running different events from one server

Keep one match settings file per format:

MatchSettings/training-ta.txt
MatchSettings/weekly-cup.txt
MatchSettings/knockout-night.txt

Switch by changing the /game_settings file and restarting. Clubs with a controller like PyPlanet or EvoSC can switch formats and load maps from chat without restarts, which is the next step for busy clubs.

Checking it worked

Watch the server output on start. It lists the maps it loaded and complains about any it cannot find. Then join the club room and press the scoreboard key to see the mode and the next map.

Doing this on a hosted server

On a GamezServers Trackmania server, the match settings file is a setting in the control panel (matchsettings.xml in UserData/Maps by default), so switching formats is a matter of pointing it at another file and restarting. Upload map packs to UserData/Maps with the file manager or SFTP, and the live console shows each map as it loads. A full 32 player room with a normal track list runs on 2 GB.

FAQ

Where is the Trackmania match settings file?

Under UserData/Maps, usually in MatchSettings/. The server's /game_settings argument points to it, relative to UserData/Maps.

Why does my uploaded Trackmania map not play?

It is not listed in the match settings file, or the path or case is wrong. Add a <map><file> line and restart.

How do I change the game mode on a Trackmania server?

Change <script_name> in the match settings file, for example to Trackmania/TM_Cup_Online.Script.txt, adjust the S_ settings and restart.

How do I shuffle maps on my server?

Set random_map_order to 1 in the <filter> block.