Beta Testing How-To and Update Previews
- Derek Batting
In the following pages, we will announce when a new Beta Test version of Fantasy Grounds VTT is available, as well as periodically showcase new features that are available to test in the new Beta builds.
To see new feature previews and showcased items in Beta builds, head over to the Beta Features and Update Previews page:
Link: Beta Features and Updates Preview
How To Access The Test (Beta) Channel in Fantasy Grounds VTT
Before accessing the Test channel, we strongly recommend backing up your /campaigns folder to a safe place. You can read more about that in the following article:
All About Campaigns - Your Questions Answered | How Do I Make A Backup Of My Campaign?
Click on Settings from the main Fantasy Grounds VTT menu.
Clicking the Settings button will close the Fantasy Grounds VTT main menu, and take you to the Settings applications.
Once in Settings, click the ADVANCED tab at the top of the window (1), then click on the Build Channel dropdown (2). Select Test from the dropdown list (3). Once done, click Save (4).
Once you have clicked Save, you will be taken to the Fantasy Grounds Updater. In this window, click the Update button to update Fantasy Grounds VTT from the Live (Stable) channel to the Test (Beta) channel.
The Updater will then begin downloading the new Test Build files as well as any purchased items from the Store or FG Forge*.
*NOTE: The Test channel is in an entirely different directory on your computer to keep files from overlapping or overwriting other files, like campaigns or program files. For this reason, FGVTT will download all prior purchases for use in the Test build.
Once the update has completed, click the Launch Fantasy Grounds button.
Once launched, you may get a warning window about being on the same version as your GM / Players, networking changes, etc. You can click Close to close this window.
After closing the warning window, you will be back at the Fantasy Grounds VTT main menu, but you will be in the Test Build channel. This will be denoted next to the version number in the upper-right corner.
That’s it! You’re now ready to test new features and maybe help us squash a bug or two!
Please be aware that any campaigns you create in Test will not be available in Live channel if you switch back to the stable branch.
How To Copy Live Campaigns to Test (Beta) Channel
If you wish to use one or all of your Live (Stable) channel campaigns in the Test (Beta) channel, you will need to copy them over manually.
Campaigns can be found in the following location depending on the OS you are using:
Campaigns Folder Default Locations - Live Channel
Windows 10/11
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\SmiteWorks\Fantasy Grounds\campaigns
macOS
/Users/[username]/SmiteWorks/Fantasy Grounds/campaigns
Linux
/home/[username]/.smiteworks/fgdata/campaigns
Copy one or all of the campaign folders in the /campaigns folder and paste them into the Test channel /campaigns folder at the following location depending on OS:
Campaigns Folder Default Locations - Test Channel
Windows 10/11
C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\SmiteWorks\Fantasy Grounds\channels\Test\campaigns
macOS
/Users/[username]/SmiteWorks/Fantasy Grounds/channels/Test/campaigns
Linux
/home/[username]/.smiteworks/fgdata/channels/Test/campaigns
You can then load the campaigns you copied into the Test build as you normally would.
WARNING: Once a campaign is opened in the Test (Beta) channel, it may no longer be usable in the Live (Stable) version. We strongly recommend making a duplicate copy of your campaigns folders and using the copies for testing.
We DO NOT recommend copying campaigns opened in Test back to the Live channel as they may not be openable in Live and may be unrecoverable once saved.