Loot Editor for DayZ

Welcome to the official documentation for the Loot Editor for DayZ. This guide covers everything from your first file open to advanced features like mass editing and smart import.

The Loot Editor is a professional desktop application designed to make editing DayZ types.xml files fast, safe, and intuitive. Instead of manually editing thousands of lines of XML, you get a powerful visual interface with real-time validation and error prevention.

Installation

The Loot Editor for DayZ is available exclusively through Steam.

1. Visit the Steam Store page
2. Purchase and install the application through Steam
3. Launch the Loot Editor from your Steam Library

Opening Your First File

There are several ways to open a types.xml file in the Loot Editor:

Option 1: Drag & Drop

Simply drag your types.xml file from your file explorer and drop it onto the application's start screen. The editor will immediately parse and display all items.

Option 2: File Menu

Use the standard file open dialog via the application menu to browse for your types.xml file.

Data Grid

The Data Grid is the heart of the Loot Editor. It displays all items from your types.xml in a spreadsheet-like table, with each column representing a different XML parameter.

The grid uses advanced virtualization technology, meaning only the rows currently visible on screen are rendered. This allows the editor to handle files with 10,000+ items without any performance issues.

Grid Features

• Sticky Headers: Column headers and filter rows remain fixed at the top as you scroll
• Zebra Striping: Optional alternating row colors for better readability
• Column Visibility: Hide or show columns based on your needs
• Error Highlighting: Rows with errors are highlighted in red

Editing Cells

To edit any cell in the grid, simply double-click on it. The cell will switch to edit mode, allowing you to type a new value. Press Enter to confirm your change or Escape to cancel.

For numeric values (like nominal, lifetime, etc.), the editor validates your input to ensure only valid numbers are accepted.

Filtering & Sorting

Each column in the grid has its own smart filter. Filters are located in the fixed row below the column headers, so they're always accessible.

Filter Types

• Text Filters (Classname): Type to search by item class name. Matches are case-insensitive.
• Dropdown Filters (Category, Usage, Value): Select from available values, including a special "No Value" option to find items missing assignments.
• Numeric Filters: Filter by exact values or ranges for numeric columns.

Sorting

Click on any column header to sort the grid by that column. Click again to reverse the sort order. A third click removes the sort and returns to the original order.

Mass Editing

The Mass Edit feature is one of the most powerful tools in the editor. It allows you to modify multiple items simultaneously, saving hours of manual work.

How to Use Mass Edit

1. Select Items: Click on rows to select them (use Shift-click for ranges, Ctrl-click for individual items)
2. Open Mass Edit: Click the "Mass Edit" button in the toolbar
3. Choose Parameters: Select which columns to modify
4. Set Values: Enter new values or percentage adjustments
5. Apply: Review and confirm your changes

Import & Merge

When you add a new mod to your DayZ server, you need to merge the mod's types.xml with your existing loot configuration. The Smart Import system makes this process safe and painless.

Import Workflow

1. Open your main types.xml in the editor
2. Drag and drop the mod's types.xml onto the editor (or use the import button)
3. Review the preview: The import dialog shows you exactly what will happen:
   • 🟢 New items that will be added
   • 🟡 Existing items that will be overwritten
   • 🔴 Conflicts or warnings to review
4. Confirm to merge the items into your data

Error Checking

The Loot Editor includes a comprehensive validation system that runs in real-time as you work. This prevents you from saving a broken types.xml that could crash your DayZ server.

Types of Errors Detected

• Missing Values: Items that are missing required fields like value tiers
• Invalid Tier Assignments: Incorrect or non-existent tier names
• Logic Errors: Values that don't make sense (e.g., min greater than nominal)
• Structural Issues: Invalid category or usage combinations

Fix Modal

When errors are detected, the Fix Modal provides intelligent suggestions to resolve them. Many common issues can be fixed with a single click.

Save Protection

If critical errors are found, the editor will block saving and display the Save Blocked Modal, explaining what needs to be fixed first. This is your safety net against deploying a broken loot configuration.

Drag & Drop

The Loot Editor supports drag and drop throughout the application:

• Start Screen: Drop a .xml file to open it
• Add Items View: Drop a mod's .xml file to start the import process
• Data Grid: Drop a file directly onto the grid to trigger the import dialog

This deep OS integration means you can work with the editor using the most natural workflow — just drag files from your file explorer and drop them where they need to go.

Context Menu & Online Search

Right-clicking on an item's class name in the grid opens a context menu with useful options:

• Search on Google: Quickly look up an unknown item class name on Google
• Search on DuckDuckGo: Alternative search engine option for privacy-conscious users
• Copy Row as XML: Instantly copy the full XML representation of the selected row

This is especially helpful when working with modded items you're not familiar with or exporting individual rows. Instead of manually copying the class name and searching in your browser, it's just one right-click away.

Settings & Customization

The Loot Editor offers several customization options to tailor the editing experience:

• Dark / Light Mode: Toggle between dark and light themes based on your preference
• Zebra Striping: Enable alternating row colors for better readability in large datasets
• Column Visibility: Show or hide individual columns to focus on the data that matters

Column Reference

Each column in the Data Grid corresponds to a parameter in the DayZ types.xml format. Here's what each column controls:

Categories & Usage Zones

Categories

Items can belong to the following categories:

• weapons — Firearms, melee weapons
• tools — Utility items (knives, saws, lockpicks)
• clothes — Wearable clothing and armor
• containers — Backpacks, bags, pouches
• food — Food and drink items
• vehiclesparts — Vehicle components
• explosives — Grenades, mines, detonators

Usage Zones

Usage zones determine where on the map items will spawn:

• Military — Military bases and camps
• Police — Police stations
• Farm — Agricultural areas
• Village — Small settlements
• Town — Larger urban areas
• Industrial — Industrial zones and factories
• Hunting — Hunting stands and forest areas
• School — Schools
• Medic — Hospitals and medical facilities

Value Tiers

Value tiers control the rarity of items within their spawn zones. DayZ divides the map into four tiers, numbered 1 (coast/starter areas) through 4 (deep inland/high-value areas):

• Tier1 — Coastal areas, starter zones (common items)
• Tier2 — Outer inland areas (moderate items)
• Tier3 — Deep inland areas (rare items)
• Tier4 — High-security zones, NWAF area (very rare items)

Common Issues

Items are highlighted in red

Red-highlighted rows indicate validation errors. Hover over the error icon to see the specific issue. Common causes include missing value tags, invalid category names, or min values exceeding nominal.

My server still shows old loot after saving

After saving your edited types.xml, you need to restart your DayZ server for changes to take effect. The loot economy updates are not applied instantly on a running server.

Imported items don't appear in-game

Make sure the mod is installed and loaded on your server, and that the mod's items use valid category, usage, and value tags. The Loot Editor's error checking will warn you about common issues.

Tips & Best Practices

• Always keep a backup: Before making major changes, copy your original types.xml to a safe location.
• Use Mass Edit wisely: Test with a small percentage change first (e.g., 10%) before making drastic adjustments.
• Check errors before saving: Always resolve all highlighted errors before deploying to your live server.
• Use the Wiki: The built-in Help Modal explains what each parameter does in the game — use it when you're unsure.
• Organize with filters: Use the category and usage filters to work on one item type at a time, reducing cognitive overload.
• Enable Zebra Striping: For large files, turn on alternating row colors in Settings to make the grid easier to read.