Groups Manager Plugin for Minecraft
in Plugins
By Nathan Young
Overview
Installing plugins on your Minecraft server may add tons of unique commands and features for players to use. Most of these require assigned permission nodes before any ability usage. This process is done by group or rank management plugins, with GroupManager being an extremely popular choice. Using this on your Spigot or Paper server will allow you to add permissions through two methods. Whether you’re in-game or editing its configuration file, you have the control to do either one. However, the exact setup and installation can be confusing to some owners. Due to this, we’ll show you the process for installing and using the GroupManager plugin on your Minecraft server in this Apex Hosting tutorial.
How to Download
- Navigate to GroupManager on Spigot and click
Download Now
to the right-hand side. - Upon being redirected to their GitHub, locate your desired version of the plugin.
- Once found, click
Assets
below it and select the GroupManager.jar file option. - Save this somewhere easily accessible on your computer for later use.
Server Installation
After downloading GroupManager, you’re prepared to upload it into your server’s File Transfer Protocol (FTP) system. This area allows you to view, edit, and transfer files that’ll be saved on your Server Profile. Follow these instructions below to learn the exact process for this installation.
- Head towards your Apex server panel, then click
FTP File Access
near the top left. - Proceed to enter your
Password
into the text box and clickLogin
. - Once viewing all files, locate and select the
plugins
directory. - From here, press the
Upload
button near the top left corner. - Drag and drop the GroupManager.jar file into the respective area.
- Wait for this to reach
100%
, then return to the main panel. Restart
the server and join to confirm the installation.
Getting Started
As previously mentioned above, there are two ways to use the plugin. The first is commands to create groups, add players to them, assign permissions, among other customization options. This can take some time or become too complicated if you have lots of nodes, so using the other method is suggested. Using this involves editing the groups configuration file in the FTP, allowing you to see everything rather than blindly setting it up in-game. Additionally, it’s encouraged to review the official wiki for this configuration. After you’ve become familiar with GroupManager, you can begin truly taking control of how it functions. For instance, if you have the EssentialsX Chat plugin, then changing a rank’s formatting will alter how it appears when sending a message. We’ll walk you through the needed steps to get you started in the subsections below.
Creating a Group
Before doing anything, you’ll need to create a group. However, there are optional default ones to use if you want instead of creating custom ranks. For our purposes, we’ll be making a brand new group to showcase everything you need to do. Alternatively, you may use the /mangadd [group] command in-game to do the same function, but it isn’t advised. If you’re wanting to only set this up while in your server, then it’s encouraged to review our “Commands” subsection. With this in mind, the following steps below will show you this process with the configuration file.
- Navigate to your
FTP File Access
area, thenLogin
accordingly. - Enter the
plugins
directory, then select the GroupManager folder. - Once there, head towards this pathway:
…/worlds/[world name]
. - Afterward, press
Edit
to the right of your groups.yml file. - Copy and paste the following underneath “groups:” in the editor:
GroupNameHere: default: false permissions: - [] inheritance: - g:groupmanager_default info: build: true prefix: 'Prefix Here' suffix: 'Suffix Here'
- Do this for the number of groups you want, then stay on this page for later configuration.
Assigning Permissions
With your newly added group(s), it’s time to set up the permissions from them. Doing this requires you to know what nodes to use from your existing plugins. For example, EssentialsX Spawn is an extremely popular addon that has the essentials.spawn
permission for using “/spawn” in-game. Most plugins have documentation about their nodes, whether it’s on their official page, GitHub, or elsewhere. Unfortunately, sometimes developers do not mention anything about permissions. Keeping this in mind, locate your desired nodes and follow the instructions below to begin assigning them.
- Inside of the groups.yml file, replace
[]
under “permissions” with your node. - On a new line, copy and paste the following for more permissions:
- [] - [] - []
- Repeat this process until you’re finished and satisfied with the setup.
- Afterward, press
Save
at the top to keep all recent changes. - Return to the main panel, then
Restart
the server to apply the edits.
Creating an Inheritance
Another way to add permissions is using GroupManager’s inheritance system, which are collections of nodes to make the assigning process easier. This also serves as a way to have the same set of permissions for several worlds, rather than making entirely new groups. By default, the plugin has many of them to use, such as g:essentials_admin to give the rank EssentialsX admin privileges. In order to create your own inheritances, you’ll be required to edit the globalgroups.yml file. After making them, entering its values in your group is the next step. This entire process is similar to assigning permissions, but review the following directions below to successfully do it.
- Enter this pathway from your FTP panel:
…/plugins/GroupManager
. - Afterward, click
Edit
to the right of globalgroups.yml to open the file editor. - Proceed to copy and paste the following on a new line under “groups”:
g:inheritance_name_here: permissions: - []
- Replace
[]
with permissions and enter the inheritance name accordingly. - Add new permission lines until you’re satisfied, then continue filling them out.
- Once you’re done, press
Save
at the top and return to the groups.yml file. - Enter the inheritance value under “inheritance” in your desired group.
- Add a new line and repeat with different values if you have multiple.
- Press
Save
at the top to keep the recently made changes. Restart
the server from the main panel to apply your edits.
Group Formatting
It’s encouraged to edit the prefixes and suffixes of your groups, as these will appear in-chat. Color codes are supported, meaning you can have red, blue, or any other type show. Most server owners have the rank’s name in the prefix, such as “[Admin]” for administrators. Adding a space after will separate it from the displayed username when sending a message. Throwing colors into the mix with the combined information above will be like this “&0[&cAdmin&0] &4”. The code after the prefix makes the username change appearances, which is a common theme to use. Keep in mind that if you have existing chat plugins, then it’s possible this format will not be applied. Besides this, the steps below will show you where to add these values into your groups.
- While editing the groups.yml file, enter your desired characters for “prefix”.
- Make sure to follow the formatting, then continue doing the same for “suffix”.
Note: Leaving the
‘’
field empty means nothing will appear in-chat. - Do this for every group you want to have chat formatting.
- Once you’re finished, simply press
Save
at the top to keep all changes. - Navigate to the main panel, then
Restart
the server to apply the edits.
Assigning Players to Groups
When you have all the groups configured and ready for use, it’s time to assign players to them. This is easily done with a single command, which is considered the last portion of the configuration. Simply run /manuadd [player] [group] in your server’s chat to assign a user on that rank. Make sure to replace the placeholders accordingly, with the player and group names. Afterward, using the /manwhois [player] command will confirm their association with the rank, by displaying it in the chat.
Commands
Instead of configuring your groups through the file editor from the panel, you can use commands in-game. This is mainly used for quick changes, rather than complete setups. However, you’re in control of how you wish to manage your ranks. Before starting to use any, become a server operator if you aren’t already since it grants you access to everything. The list below shows critical commands to use for making a group, adding permissions, among other customization aspects. If you need further assistance, then visit GroupManager’s Command Wiki. Additionally, make sure to follow the exact format for each one, as incorrectly entering values will result in failure.
Command | Permission | Description |
---|---|---|
/mangadd [group] | groupmanager.mangadd | Add a new group to the list. |
/mangdel [group] | groupmanager.mangdel | Remove a group for the list. |
/manglist | groupmanager.manglist | List all existing groups. |
/mangaddp [group] [permission] | groupmanager.mangaddp | Add permissions to your group. |
/mangdelp [group] [permission] | groupmanager.mangdelp | Remove permissions from your group. |
/manglistp [group] | groupmanager.manglistp | List all permissions from a group. |
/mangaddv [group] [variable] [value] | groupmanager.mangaddv | Add or replace variables like prefix or suffix on groups. |
/mangdelv [group] [variable] | groupmanager.mangdelv | Removes variables from a group. |
/manglistv [group] | groupmanager.manglistv | List all variables from a group. |
/manuadd [player] [group] | groupmanager.manuadd | Add players to a group. |
/manudel [player] [group] | groupmanager.manudel | Removes a player from the group. |
/manwhois [player] | groupmanager.manwhois | Displays the player’s group. |
/mansave | groupmanager.mansave | Save all recent changes. |
/manload | groupmanager.manload | Applies all changes, through reloading the plugin. |
Suggested Plugins
As hinted throughout this guide, other plugins are required for extra permissions to use in your groups. Due to this, we’ve compiled a list of useful and entertaining addons that you can try out.
EssentialsX - This is the best plugin to use for almost any type of server, as it comes with several key features. These include homes, kits, teleportation, and so much more. It’s strongly recommended to use its Chat, Spawn, and Protect addons to get the most out of EssentialsX. However, Vault is required for everything to run smoothly and support its economy system.
CombatLogX - Whether you’re hosting a PvP or Survival server, players that leave combat should be punished for not finishing their fight. This is the mindset for many owners, which leads us into this plugin. Using it will prevent anyone from logging out mid-combat, unless they have unique permissions. There’s also lots of other features such as protecting loot, toggling PvP, among other aspects.
PlaceHolderAPI - Having many plugins, especially ones that provide information to players, is commonly found in Minecraft servers. Displaying important details such as a user’s death or kill count is done through the PAPI plugin. Using this is supported by GroupManager and countless others, allowing you to hook into other addons to take advantage of their placeholders.
MyCommand - If you’re unhappy with some commands or wish to change them, then using this plugin will help with that. Whether you’re wanting to make a shortcut or a completely new one, MyCommand gives you that ability and more. Using this is a bit complicated, but is worth the effort for having custom and unique commands in your server.
EnhancedEnchants - Many players wish to have better enchanted gear that exceeds normal limits, such as a Sharpness 10 sword. This can be perceived as overpowered, but luckily this plugin can be tweaked to provide you with a tailored experience. If you want to cap how many times an enchantment can be combined in an anvil or alter the max repair cost, using EnhancedEnchants is the way to go.
MCRealistic - Servers that enjoy a bit of realism will surely be interested in this plugin, as it implements true survival features. For instance, you must manage your thirst and hunger to continue living in the world. Watch out though, sicknesses can come and go that hurts the player. It also comes with block physics, like when breaking a tree down.
Common Issues
GroupManager Isn’t Loading
In cases where the plugin isn’t working or loading, then double-check you have a Spigot or Paper server. Additionally, you’ll want to have a supported Minecraft version, which ranges between 1.8 - 1.19 and above. If the situation is persisting, then confirm you’ve uploaded the file into the plugins directory for the correct Server Profile and Restarted
from the panel. However, configuration errors can also result in the failure to load, so reverting any recent changes is suggested. Upon fixing any of these potential mistakes and issues, then GroupManager should start to work.
Unable to Format Groups
If you’re unable to correctly format the chat, then make sure you have a chat plugin installed. Some of these may interrupt GroupManager’s prefixes and suffixes, but EssentialsX Chat doesn’t. Once you have this installed, then proceed to format the ranks accordingly. Confirm you're keeping the ‘’ characters too, as these are required. If it’s working, but not appearing properly, then play around with spacing or color codes to get it right.
Permissions Aren’t Working
When assigning permissions to a group, the format must be correct. This includes the spacing, dashes (-), and the nodes’ spelling. Once you’re finished with this portion of the setup, Save
through the file editor and Restart
the server. The permissions will work as intended, but if the situation is persisting, then you or the targeted player may have operator privileges. Take this away from the user’s account and see if the assigned permissions work. Otherwise, double-check your inheritance values to see if they’re valid.
Useful Links
GroupManager on Spigot
GroupManager Wiki
Becoming a Minecraft Server Operator
Additional FTP Information