Garry's Mod ULX MOTD Setup: How To Add Custom Text And Clickable URLs

Embedding customized text alongside clickable external hyperlinks in a Garry's Mod ULX Message of the Day requires switching the MOTD generator mode from basic text to HTML execution or hosted URL redirection. By editing the server's data configuration files or utilizing the XGUI interface, administrators can seamlessly render standard HTML anchor tags that trigger the Steam in-game overlay browser. Following proper syntax and file paths ensures complete cross-client compatibility and eliminates blank window rendering errors during player connection.

Pre-Configuration Requirements and Tooling Checklist

Before modifying your Garry's Mod (GMod) server's Message of the Day (MOTD), you must ensure your server environment meets specific file structure standards and administrative privilege levels. ULX relies on the underlying ULib framework to read local files or execute web frame requests inside the source engine client.

• Essential Management Tools: A reliable Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) client such as FileZilla, coupled with a dedicated plain-text editor like Notepad++ configured to UTF-8 without Byte Order Mark (BOM) encoding.
• Mandatory Prerequisites: Active Superadmin or Server Host permissions within the ULX user management system, an operational installation of ULX and ULib addons, and an enabled Steam Overlay setting on target client machines for external link processing.
• Configuration Benchmarks: Estimated completion time is between 10 to 15 minutes. Financial budget requirements are zero, provided you are using local file hosting or an existing web hosting platform.

Step-by-Step Guide to Embedding Text with URLs in ULX MOTD

Step 1: Locate and Prepare the ULX MOTD Configuration File

To serve custom formatted text with hyperlinks directly from your dedicated server files, you must locate the primary file where ULX stores its local MOTD content.

1. Connect to your Garry's Mod dedicated server directory via your FTP client or server control panel file manager.
2. Navigate to the root directory path: garrysmod/data/ulx/
3. Locate the file named motd.txt. If this file does not exist, create a new text document, name it motd.txt, and confirm that the extension remains plain text rather than rich text.
4. Open motd.txt using your text editor. By default, ULX reads this file line-by-line. To enable custom formatted text and links, this file will be written using standard HTML markup.

Warning: Do not save motd.txt using standard Windows Notepad with UTF-8 BOM encoding. UTF-8 BOM inserts invisible byte markers at the top of the file, which causes Garry's Mod to render corrupted characters or fail to read the HTML tags entirely.

Step 2: Format HTML Text and Embed Hyperlinks

Garry's Mod renders the MOTD using an embedded browser framework (Awesomium on legacy 32-bit branch, or Chromium on the modern 64-bit branch). Because of this, you can structure your motd.txt file using basic HTML tags to format your text and insert URLs.

1. Begin the file with an HTML structural container, setting your background color, text font, and margins using inline CSS inside a style attribute within the body tag.
2. Insert your descriptive text using standard paragraph tags like

   or heading tags like

for structured announcements.

Pro-Tip: Always use fully qualified URL paths beginning with explicit secure protocols (https://). Omission of the protocol header causes the source engine embedded browser to treat the hyperlink as a local file request, resulting in broken navigation.

Step 3: Configure ULX Settings to Render HTML Mode

Simply placing HTML code inside motd.txt is insufficient if ULX is set to plain text mode. You must configure the ULX module settings to parse the document as HTML content or direct URL redirect.

1. Launch Garry's Mod and join your dedicated server with an account possessing superadmin status.
2. Open the developer console and execute the command ulx xgui or type !xgui in the team chat window to bring up the graphical admin menu.
3. Click on the Settings tab located at the top of the XGUI window, then select the Server sub-tab on the left side menu.
4. Expand the ULX MOTD accordion sub-menu to display the MOTD control variables.
5. Locate the MOTD Mode configuration setting. Change the selection from "File (Plain Text)" to "File (HTML)" or "URL" depending on your hosting preference.
6. Verify that the checkbox labeled Enable MOTD is checked. If using a hosted webpage instead of motd.txt, paste the target web page URL into the MOTD URL field.
7. Click Apply Settings. ULX will update its internal settings file located at garrysmod/data/ulx/config.txt automatically.

Step 4: Configure Remote Web Page Hosting (Alternative Advanced Method)

If your community MOTD features complex JavaScript, live dynamic player stats, or automatic Discord widget embeds, hosting the file locally in motd.txt may prove restrictive. You can host an HTML file on an external web server and point ULX directly to that URL.

1. Create an HTML document on your web hosting account or external server (for example, https://example.com/motd.html).
2. Write your styled content and include your clickable anchor links within the hosted HTML file.
3. Open your server developer console and execute the command: ulx_motdurl "https://example.com/motd.html"
4. Execute the console command: ulx_motdmode 2 to instruct ULX to load the MOTD entirely from the external URL variable rather than the local file system.
5. Test the implementation by executing ulx showMotd in the console to verify that the remote site loads smoothly without layout breaking.

Step 5: Test Execution and Flush Engine Caches

Once configured, thorough testing is required across client configurations to ensure external links open cleanly through the overlay.

1. Open the console and run ulx showMotd to force the MOTD window to pop up on your client.
2. Click every embedded hyperlink within the text to confirm that the links trigger the Steam Overlay web browser.
3. If changes to text or links do not appear, reconnect to the server or execute ulx_motdfile "ulx/motd.txt" in the server console to force a reload of the configuration path.

Comparison of ULX MOTD Implementation Methods

Troubleshooting ULX MOTD Link and Display Failures

Blank White or Grey Window When MOTD Opens

• Root Cause: Garry's Mod Chromium x86-64 branch blocking mixed HTTP/HTTPS content, or an invalid URL structure inside the ULX MOTD settings.
• Actionable Fix: Ensure all link sources, images, and external stylesheet references inside your HTML use strict HTTPS protocols. If using a remote URL, test the link in a standard desktop browser to verify that SSL certificates are valid and no CORS headers block embedded iframe requests.

Hyperlinks Display but Do Not Open Upon Clicking

• Root Cause: Missing target attribute within HTML anchor tags, causing the embedded browser to attempt navigating inside a restricted sandboxed frame without pop-up permissions.
• Actionable Fix: Open your motd.txt or hosted web page file and update all anchor links to explicitly include target="_blank" inside the tag parameters. Alternatively, verify that the Steam In-Game Overlay is enabled in the player's personal Steam client settings under the In-Game preferences tab.

HTML Markup Shows as Literal Unparsed Code

• Root Cause: ULX MOTD execution mode is explicitly set to Plain Text mode (Mode 0 or Mode 1 text setting) instead of HTML parsing mode.
• Actionable Fix: Open XGUI using the command !xgui in chat, navigate to Settings, select Server, expand ULX MOTD, and change the dropdown mode to HTML. Alternatively, execute the console command ulx_motdmode 1 directly in the server host console.

Text Formatting Updates Do Not Apply In-Game

• Root Cause: Local file caching by Garry's Mod embedded browser, or file saving permissions blocking server overwrite in the garrysmod/data/ directory.
• Actionable Fix: Force an update by renaming or saving the file, then execute ulx_motdfile "ulx/motd.txt" in the server console. Players can clear their local embedded browser cache by deleting the cache folder located inside their local Garry's Mod installation directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I link directly to a Discord invite inside the ULX MOTD text?

Yes, you can embed a Discord invite link by placing standard HTML anchor tags around your text inside motd.txt or your hosted MOTD page. Make sure to use an permanent Discord invite link and include the target="_blank" attribute within your HTML anchor code so the invite opens in the user's desktop client or Steam Overlay.

Why does my local motd.txt file reset to default after server restarts?

This occurs if file permissions on the server host prevent ULX from writing configuration changes, or if an external server management tool overwrites garrysmod/data/ulx/motd.txt on boot. Set your motd.txt permissions to read-only for secondary accounts, and ensure changes are saved while the server is offline or applied directly through the XGUI menu interface.

Is it better to host the MOTD locally in garrysmod/data/ or on a remote web server?

Hosting on a remote web server is superior for communities requiring dynamic updates, donation progress bars, or active web forum integration, as changes update instantly without touching server files. Local motd.txt hosting is preferable for simple text rules and fixed link directory listings that do not require external web hosting dependencies.

How do I change the size of the MOTD window that pops up for connecting players?

The dimensions of the ULX MOTD window are determined by ULX client-side frame scripts based on player screen resolution. However, if you use a remote URL or custom HTML, you can control internal text scaling and element positioning using CSS responsive design rules like percentage max-width settings within your HTML body tag.

Does the 64-bit Chromium branch of Garry's Mod affect how MOTD URLs render?

Yes, the modern 64-bit Chromium branch supports HTML5, updated CSS flexbox structures, and modern JavaScript standards better than the legacy Awesomium rendering engine. However, strict security enforcement in Chromium requires all embedded links, images, and fonts to be served over valid HTTPS connections to render properly.

Optimize Your Garry's Mod Community Management

Managing a thriving Garry's Mod server requires robust administrative tools, reliable file hosting, and seamless player onboarding workflows. Elevate your community infrastructure today by fine-tuning your ULX configuration, protecting server performance, and maintaining clear communication across every player session.