File Management - GamePanelX

GamePanelX provides a comprehensive file management system that allows you to browse directories, edit configuration files, upload files, and manage your server’s filesystem directly from the browser.

Accessing the File Manager

To access file management for a server:

Open Server Management

Click on a server from your server list

Navigate to Files Tab

Click the Files tab in the server management interface

Wait for Loading

The file list loads with a “Loading…” indicator

File Browser Interface

The file browser displays files and directories in a table format:

Table Columns

Column	Description
Icon	File or folder icon (clickable)
Name	Filename or directory name (clickable for editable files)
Modified	Last modification date
Accessed	Last access date
Size	File size in bytes
Delete	Delete button for files

Directories and files are automatically sorted with directories appearing first, then files, both in alphabetical order.

Navigating Directories

Opening Folders

To navigate into a directory:

Click the folder icon
Or click the folder name link

The interface tracks your current directory path and displays it at the top:

Working Dir: /addons/sourcemod/configs

Going Back

To return to the parent directory:

Click the “Go Back” link at the top of the file list
The back button shows a left arrow icon

Your current directory is tracked in the session, so navigating between tabs and returning to the Files tab maintains your position.

Editing Files

Editable File Types

You can edit files with the following extensions:

.txt - Text files
.cfg - Configuration files
.rc - Runtime configuration
.log - Log files
.ini - INI configuration files
.inf - Information files
.vdf - Valve Data Format files
.yml - YAML files
.properties - Properties files
.json - JSON files
.conf - Configuration files

Editing Workflow

Open File

Click on an editable filename to open the editor

Edit Content

Modify the file content in the textarea editor

Save Changes

Click the Save button below the editor

Confirmation

Wait for the success confirmation in the info box

File Editor Features

- Large textarea with monospace font
- White-space preserved (pre-formatted)
- Full file content loaded
- Syntax preserved
- Auto-save on button click

When editing files, always make backups of important configurations. Invalid syntax in config files can prevent your server from starting.

Uploading Files

For local servers, file uploads are supported through an AJAX uploader.

Upload Interface

The upload widget appears at the top of the file browser:

Click the upload area to select files
Or drag and drop files onto the upload zone
Files upload to the current directory automatically
Progress indicators show upload status

File upload functionality is only available for local servers. Remote servers accessed via SSH/SFTP use different file transfer methods.

Upload Workflow

Navigate to Target Directory

Browse to where you want to upload files

Select Files

Click the upload widget and choose files

Wait for Upload

Files upload with progress indicator

Refresh View

Reload the directory to see new files

Creating Files and Directories

Creating a New File (Admin Only)

Administrators can create new files:

Click Add File

Click the “Add File” link at the bottom of the file list

Enter Details

A modal opens - enter the filename and content

Save

Click Save to create the file in the current directory

File Appears

The new file appears in the file list automatically

Creating a New Directory (Admin Only)

Administrators can create directories:

Click Add Directory

Click the “Add Directory” link at the bottom

Enter Name

Type the directory name in the modal prompt

Create

Click the create button

Directory Appears

The new folder appears in the file list

When creating files or directories, they are created in your current working directory. Navigate to the correct location first.

Deleting Files and Directories

Deleting Files

To delete a file:

Click Delete Icon

Click the red X icon in the Delete column

Confirm Deletion

A confirmation prompt appears asking “Are you sure?”

Confirm

Click OK to permanently delete the file

File Removed

The file row fades out and is removed from the list

Deleting Directories

Directories can only be deleted if they are empty:

Navigate inside the directory
Delete all files and subdirectories
Go back to the parent directory
When a directory is empty, a “Remove this directory” link appears

File and directory deletions are permanent and cannot be undone. Always verify before confirming deletion.

Local vs Remote File Access

GamePanelX handles files differently based on server location:

Local Servers

// Files accessed directly on the same machine
Path: /home/user/_SERVERS/accounts/username/ip.port/
Method: Direct filesystem access (PHP fopen/fread)
Features:
  - File uploads supported
  - Direct read/write
  - Fast operations

Remote Servers

// Files accessed via SSH/SFTP
Method: PHPSecLib (Pure-PHP SSH Implementation)
Features:
  - SFTP file listing
  - Remote file read/write
  - SSO (Single Sign-On) user authentication
  - Secure encrypted connections

Remote file operations use the server’s SSO credentials, ensuring users can only access files their system user has permissions for.

File Management Security

Path Validation

GamePanelX implements strict path validation:

Paths starting with . are rejected (prevents ../ traversal attacks)
Filenames are sanitized
Users can only access their own server directories
System checks network ID and user ownership

Permission Checks

// Every file operation verifies:
User is logged in
Server ID belongs to the user
Network permissions are correct
File paths are within allowed directories
SSO user has filesystem permissions

Working Directory Session

Your current directory is tracked in the PHP session:

$_SESSION['curdir']  // Stores current working directory

This allows:

Persistent navigation between page loads
Correct relative path resolution
File operations in the current directory
Back button functionality

If you get lost in the directory structure, navigate back to the Files tab to reset to the server’s root directory.

File Browser Actions Reference

AJAX Actions

All file operations use AJAX for seamless interaction:

Action	URL Parameter	Description
Load Directory	`a=file_load_dir`	List files in a directory
Save Content	`a=file_actions&do=savecontent`	Save edited file
Delete File	`a=file_actions&do=delete`	Remove a file
Delete Directory	`a=file_actions&do=delete_dir`	Remove empty directory
Create File	`a=file_actions&do=save_newfile`	Create new file
Create Directory	`a=file_actions&do=create_newdir`	Create new folder

Common File Management Tasks

Editing a Configuration File

Navigate to Config

Browse to your server’s config directory (often /cfg or /configs)

Open Config File

Click on the .cfg file you want to edit

Make Changes

Modify settings in the editor

Save and Restart

Save the file, then restart your server from the Info tab

Backing Up Configuration Files

Download Original

Use SFTP/FTP to download important files to your computer

Edit via Panel

Make changes through the web interface

Test Changes

Restart and verify server works correctly

Keep Backups

Maintain local copies of working configurations

The web file manager does not provide download functionality. Use external FTP/SFTP tools for backing up or downloading files.

Troubleshooting

Cannot Edit Files

Verify the file extension is in the editable list
Check if you have permissions for the Files tab
Ensure the server is not locked by another process

Permission Errors

Check that the system user has write permissions
Verify ownership of files (should match gameserver user)
Contact admin if filesystem permissions are incorrect

Files Not Appearing

Ensure you’re in the correct directory
Try going back and re-entering the folder
Check if files were created by a different user
Verify the server has completed installation

Next Steps

Console Access

Learn to use the server console and send commands

Server Settings

Configure server parameters and startup options

Get Started

Core Features

Administration

Client Portal

Server Management

Advanced

​Accessing the File Manager

​File Browser Interface

​Table Columns

​Navigating Directories

​Opening Folders

​Going Back

​Editing Files

​Editable File Types

​Editing Workflow

​File Editor Features

​Uploading Files

​Upload Interface

​Upload Workflow

​Creating Files and Directories

​Creating a New File (Admin Only)

​Creating a New Directory (Admin Only)

​Deleting Files and Directories

​Deleting Files

​Deleting Directories

​Local vs Remote File Access

​Local Servers

​Remote Servers

​File Management Security

​Path Validation

​Permission Checks

​Working Directory Session

​File Browser Actions Reference

​AJAX Actions

​Common File Management Tasks

​Editing a Configuration File

​Backing Up Configuration Files

​Troubleshooting

​Cannot Edit Files

​Permission Errors

​Files Not Appearing

​Next Steps

Console Access

Server Settings

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Accessing the File Manager

File Browser Interface

Table Columns

Navigating Directories

Opening Folders

Going Back

Editing Files

Editable File Types

Editing Workflow

File Editor Features

Uploading Files

Upload Interface

Upload Workflow

Creating Files and Directories

Creating a New File (Admin Only)

Creating a New Directory (Admin Only)

Deleting Files and Directories

Deleting Files

Deleting Directories

Local vs Remote File Access

Local Servers

Remote Servers

File Management Security

Path Validation

Permission Checks

Working Directory Session

File Browser Actions Reference

AJAX Actions

Common File Management Tasks

Editing a Configuration File

Backing Up Configuration Files

Troubleshooting

Cannot Edit Files

Permission Errors

Files Not Appearing

Next Steps