Running Weblogs with Slash

Modifying Configuration Variables

Configuration variables control important aspects of the site’s behavior. For example, the allow_anonymous variable controls whether anonymous users can post comments. Earlier versions of Slash stored these variables in a special file. They moved into the database with Version 2.0, and the Slashteam added a browser-based interface. The Vars link in the Admin menu leads to the Variables interface (see Figure 3-3).

Figure 3-3. The Variables interface, used to edit configuration variables

All of the available variables are listed in the Select Variable Name menu. To edit or to view a specific variable, select its name from the menu and click the Select Var button. The other form fields will be filled in when the page refreshes. The Variable Name and Value boxes behave almost as expected. If you change the value and click Save, the database will be updated with the new value. If you type a new name in the Name box, a new variable will be created. If you select an existing variable and change its name, a new variable will be created, and the old variable will maintain its current value. New values will take effect within the system when Apache is restarted.

The Description field has no effect on site or variable behavior. It is simply descriptive and can be edited at any time. In case of emergency or forgetfulness, it’s best to keep the descriptions ...