matrix-docker-ansible-deploy/docs/configuring-playbook-client...

# Configuring Element (optional)

By default, this playbook installs the [Element](https://github.com/element-hq/element-web) Matrix client web application.
If that's okay, you can skip this document.


## Disabling Element

If you'd like for the playbook to not install Element (or to uninstall it if it was previously installed), you can disable it in your configuration file (`inventory/host_vars/matrix.<your-domain>/vars.yml`):

```yaml
matrix_client_element_enabled: false
```


## Configuring Element settings

The playbook provides some customization variables you could use to change Element's settings.

Their defaults are defined in [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml) and they ultimately end up in the generated `/matrix/element/config.json` file (on the server). This file is generated from the [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2) template.

**If there's an existing variable** which controls a setting you wish to change, you can simply define that variable in your configuration file (`inventory/host_vars/matrix.<your-domain>/vars.yml`) and [re-run the playbook](installing.md) to apply the changes.

Alternatively, **if there is no pre-defined variable** for an Element setting you wish to change:

- you can either **request a variable to be created** (or you can submit such a contribution yourself). Keep in mind that it's **probably not a good idea** to create variables for each one of Element's various settings that rarely get used.

- or, you can **extend and override the default configuration** ([`config.json.j2`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2)) by making use of the `matrix_client_element_configuration_extension_json_` variable. You can find information about this in [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml).

- or, if extending the configuration is still not powerful enough for your needs, you can **override the configuration completely** using `matrix_client_element_configuration_default` (or `matrix_client_element_configuration`). You can find information about this in [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml).


## Themes

To change the look of Element, you can define your own themes manually by using the `matrix_client_element_setting_defaults_custom_themes` setting.

Or better yet, you can automatically pull it all themes provided by the [aaronraimist/element-themes](https://github.com/aaronraimist/element-themes) project by simply flipping a flag (`matrix_client_element_themes_enabled: true`).

If you make your own theme, we encourage you to submit it to the **aaronraimist/element-themes** project, so that the whole community could easily enjoy it.

Note that for a custom theme to work well, all Element instances that you use must have the same theme installed.
Riot is now Element Fixes #586 (Github Issue) 4 years ago			`# Configuring Element (optional)`

refactor: update links to avoid future issue 5 months ago			`By default, this playbook installs the [Element](https://github.com/element-hq/element-web) Matrix client web application.`
Riot is now Element Fixes #586 (Github Issue) 4 years ago			`If that's okay, you can skip this document.`


			`## Disabling Element`

Better wording 4 years ago			If you'd like for the playbook to not install Element (or to uninstall it if it was previously installed), you can disable it in your configuration file (`inventory/host_vars/matrix.<your-domain>/vars.yml`):
Riot is now Element Fixes #586 (Github Issue) 4 years ago
			```yaml
			`matrix_client_element_enabled: false`
			```


			`## Configuring Element settings`

			`The playbook provides some customization variables you could use to change Element's settings.`

Move roles/matrix* to roles/custom/matrix* This paves the way for installing other roles into `roles/galaxy` using `ansible-galaxy`, similar to how it's done in: - https://github.com/spantaleev/gitea-docker-ansible-deploy - https://github.com/spantaleev/nextcloud-docker-ansible-deploy In the near future, we'll be removing a lot of the shared role code from here and using upstream roles for it. Some of the core `matrix-*` roles have already been extracted out into other reusable roles: - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.postgres - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.systemd_docker_base - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.timesync - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.vars_preserver - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.playbook_runtime_messages - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.playbook_help We just need to migrate to those. 2 years ago			Their defaults are defined in [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml) and they ultimately end up in the generated `/matrix/element/config.json` file (on the server). This file is generated from the [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2) template.
Riot is now Element Fixes #586 (Github Issue) 4 years ago
			If there's an existing variable which controls a setting you wish to change, you can simply define that variable in your configuration file (`inventory/host_vars/matrix.<your-domain>/vars.yml`) and [re-run the playbook](installing.md) to apply the changes.

			`Alternatively, if there is no pre-defined variable for an Element setting you wish to change:`

			`- you can either request a variable to be created (or you can submit such a contribution yourself). Keep in mind that it's probably not a good idea to create variables for each one of Element's various settings that rarely get used.`

Move roles/matrix* to roles/custom/matrix* This paves the way for installing other roles into `roles/galaxy` using `ansible-galaxy`, similar to how it's done in: - https://github.com/spantaleev/gitea-docker-ansible-deploy - https://github.com/spantaleev/nextcloud-docker-ansible-deploy In the near future, we'll be removing a lot of the shared role code from here and using upstream roles for it. Some of the core `matrix-*` roles have already been extracted out into other reusable roles: - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.postgres - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.systemd_docker_base - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.timesync - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.vars_preserver - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.playbook_runtime_messages - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.playbook_help We just need to migrate to those. 2 years ago			- or, you can extend and override the default configuration ([`config.json.j2`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2)) by making use of the `matrix_client_element_configuration_extension_json_` variable. You can find information about this in [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml).
Riot is now Element Fixes #586 (Github Issue) 4 years ago
Move roles/matrix* to roles/custom/matrix* This paves the way for installing other roles into `roles/galaxy` using `ansible-galaxy`, similar to how it's done in: - https://github.com/spantaleev/gitea-docker-ansible-deploy - https://github.com/spantaleev/nextcloud-docker-ansible-deploy In the near future, we'll be removing a lot of the shared role code from here and using upstream roles for it. Some of the core `matrix-*` roles have already been extracted out into other reusable roles: - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.postgres - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.systemd_docker_base - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.timesync - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.vars_preserver - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.playbook_runtime_messages - https://github.com/devture/com.devture.ansible.role.playbook_help We just need to migrate to those. 2 years ago			- or, if extending the configuration is still not powerful enough for your needs, you can override the configuration completely using `matrix_client_element_configuration_default` (or `matrix_client_element_configuration`). You can find information about this in [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml).
Riot is now Element Fixes #586 (Github Issue) 4 years ago

			`## Themes`

element-web camelCase renaming (settingDefault -> setting_defaults) 9 months ago			To change the look of Element, you can define your own themes manually by using the `matrix_client_element_setting_defaults_custom_themes` setting.
Riot is now Element Fixes #586 (Github Issue) 4 years ago
			Or better yet, you can automatically pull it all themes provided by the [aaronraimist/element-themes](https://github.com/aaronraimist/element-themes) project by simply flipping a flag (`matrix_client_element_themes_enabled: true`).

			`If you make your own theme, we encourage you to submit it to the aaronraimist/element-themes project, so that the whole community could easily enjoy it.`

			`Note that for a custom theme to work well, all Element instances that you use must have the same theme installed.`