Home A - Z
Menu

An Otter Wiki

Blame

34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
1 
# Configuration
2
4c6b41 Ralph Thesen 2023-12-04 13:05:43
Added link to the installaton guide.
3
The [[Installation Guide|Installation]] can be found [[here|Installation]].
4
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
5
An Otter Wiki is configured in the application via the <i class="fas fa-cogs"></i>
5819b3 Ralph Thesen 2024-09-03 23:00:52
added documentation about the priorities of the settings sources This was discussed in https://github.com/redimp/otterwiki/issues/135
6
**Settings** interface as admin user. Alternatively you configure the variables via the
7
`settings.cfg` or via environment variables.
8
9
*Please note:* What is set in the config file `settings.cfg` will be overwritten first
10
by the environment variables if they are set and second by the settings configured
11
via the settings interface, which are stored in the database. In brief: `Settings Interface > Environment Variables > settings.cfg`.
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
12
40563c Ivan Novohatski 2026-02-03 12:09:51
added missing vars, updated structure
13
### Application Preferences
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
14
40563c Ivan Novohatski 2026-02-03 12:09:51
added missing vars, updated structure
15
| Variable | Example | Description |
16
|--------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------|
17
| `SITE_NAME` | `'Otterwiki'` | The `SITE_NAME` displayed on every page and email |
7eb36f Ralph Thesen 2026-02-22 19:01:28
added SERVER_NAME
18
| `SERVER_NAME` | `'wiki.domain.tld'` | Set this to the domain running the wiki. In general it's advisable to be set, behind a well configured reverse proxy this is optional. Used for generating external URLs. |
40563c Ivan Novohatski 2026-02-03 12:09:51
added missing vars, updated structure
19
| `SITE_LOGO` | `'/Home/a/logo.png'` | Customize navbar logo url (can be a page attachment) |
7eb36f Ralph Thesen 2026-02-22 19:01:28
added SERVER_NAME
20
| `SITE_DESCRIPTION` | <code>'A minimalistic wiki powered by<br/> python, markdown and git.'</code> | The default description used in `<meta>` tags |
40563c Ivan Novohatski 2026-02-03 12:09:51
added missing vars, updated structure
21
| `SITE_ICON` | `'/Home/a/favicon-32x32.png'` | Configure via an url to the image that is displayed as favicon (tab icon, URL icon, bookmark icon). This can be an attachment |
22
| `SITE_LANG` | `'en'` | Configures the lang attribute of the `<html>` lang used in the wiki |
23
| `ROBOTS_TXT` | `'allow'` | Configures how the wiki indicates to visiting robots whether they are allowed to crawl the content, could be `allow` or `disallow` |
24
| `HOME_PAGE` | `'My/Page'` | Configures which page is displayed when visiting the root URL (`/`), leave empty for default (`Home`) or define any page path, including special pages that start with `/-/` |
25
| `HIDE_LOGO` | `False` | Hides or shows An Otter Wiki logo in the sidebar |
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
26
7eb36f Ralph Thesen 2026-02-22 19:01:28
added SERVER_NAME
27
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
28
### Permission configuration
29
30
| Variable | Example | Description |
31
|------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------|
32
| `READ_ACCESS` | `'ANONYMOUS'` | Read access to wiki pages and attachments |
33
| `WRITE_ACCESS` | `'REGISTERED'` | Write access to wiki pages |
34
| `ATTACHMENT_ACCESS` | `'APPROVED'` | Write acccess to attachments |
f02b8f Ralph Thesen 2024-03-23 17:44:24
Updated configuration: added DISABLE_REGISTRATION, SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_*, AUTH_METHOD, COMMIT_MESSAGE, RETAIN_PAGE_NAME_CASE, GIT_WEB_SERVER
35
| `DISABLE_REGISTRATION` | `False` | With `DISABLE_REGISTRATION=True` new users can not sign-up for a new account |
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
36
| `AUTO_APPROVAL` | `False` | With `AUTO_APPROVAL=True` users are approved on registration |
37
| `EMAIL_NEEDS_CONFIRMATION` | `True` | With `EMAIL_NEEDS_CONFIRMATION=True` users have to confirm their email address |
38
| `NOTIFY_ADMINS_ON_REGISTER` | `True` | Notify admins if a new user is registered |
843154 Otterwiki Robot 2026-03-15 17:19:26
Updated docs for sidebar config
39
| `NOTIFY_USER_ON_APPROVAL` | `False` | Send a notification mail to users when their account has been approved by an admin |
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
40
41
There are four types of users in the Otterwiki: `ANONYMOUS` are non logged in users.
42
Users that registered via email and are logged in are `REGISTERED`, users approved via
43
the settings menu by an admin are `APPROVED`. In addition to the `APPROVED` flag the `ADMIN`
44
flag can be set. Users with the `ADMIN` flag can edit (and approve) other users. The first registered user is flagged as admin.
45
f02b8f Ralph Thesen 2024-03-23 17:44:24
Updated configuration: added DISABLE_REGISTRATION, SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_*, AUTH_METHOD, COMMIT_MESSAGE, RETAIN_PAGE_NAME_CASE, GIT_WEB_SERVER
46
47
### Sidebar Preferences
48
49
| Variable | Example | Description |
50
| ----------------------- | ---------- | -------------- |
843154 Otterwiki Robot 2026-03-15 17:19:26
Updated docs for sidebar config
51
| `SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_MODE` | `'SORTED'` | Mode of the sidebar page index, see below. |
52
| `SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_MAXDEPTH` | `''` | Limit the depth of the pages displayed to any number; leave empty for unlimited. |
53
| `SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_FOCUS` | `'SUBTREE'` | Set to `'SUBTREE'` to focus the page index on the current subtree, or `'OFF'` to always display all pages. |
54
| `SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_IGNORE_CASE` | `False` | Set to `True` to sort pages case-insensitively. Only takes effect when `RETAIN_PAGE_NAME_CASE` is enabled. |
55
| `SIDEBAR_SHORTCUTS` | `'home pageindex createpage'` | Space-separated list of shortcuts shown in the sidebar. Available values: `home`, `pageindex`, `changelog`, `createpage`. Shortcuts not listed remain accessible via the `⋮` menu. |
f02b8f Ralph Thesen 2024-03-23 17:44:24
Updated configuration: added DISABLE_REGISTRATION, SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_*, AUTH_METHOD, COMMIT_MESSAGE, RETAIN_PAGE_NAME_CASE, GIT_WEB_SERVER
56
57
For `SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_MODE` pick one of
58
843154 Otterwiki Robot 2026-03-15 17:19:26
Updated docs for sidebar config
59
- `''` (empty) page index not displayed
60
- `SORTED` directories and pages, sorted
61
- `DIRECTORIES_GROUPED` directories and pages, with directories grouped first
62
- `DIRECTORIES_ONLY` list directories only
f02b8f Ralph Thesen 2024-03-23 17:44:24
Updated configuration: added DISABLE_REGISTRATION, SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_*, AUTH_METHOD, COMMIT_MESSAGE, RETAIN_PAGE_NAME_CASE, GIT_WEB_SERVER
63
64
### Content and Editing Preferences
65
66
| Variable | Example | Description |
67
| ----------------------- | ---------- | -------------- |
7222e8 Otterwiki Robot 2026-03-15 17:19:57
Updated settings for the commit message
68
| `COMMIT_MESSAGE` | `'REQUIRED'` | Controls commit message behaviour: `'REQUIRED'` forces the user to enter one, `'OPTIONAL'` allows empty messages, `'DISABLED'` always uses the default commit message without prompting |
69
| `DEFAULT_COMMIT_MESSAGE` | `''` | Default commit message used when `COMMIT_MESSAGE` is `'DISABLED'` or left empty when `'OPTIONAL'`. Supports `strftime` [format codes](https://docs.python.org/3/library/datetime.html#strftime-and-strptime-format-codes); additionally `%P` is replaced with the page name. |
40563c Ivan Novohatski 2026-02-03 12:09:51
added missing vars, updated structure
70
| `RETAIN_PAGE_NAME_CASE` | `False` | Set to `True` to retain case of the page name in the filename used for storing the page |
71
| `TREAT_UNDERSCORE_AS_SPACE_FOR_TITLES` | `False` | Set to `True` to replace underscores (`_`) with spaces in page titles, breadcrumbs, and page index |
72
| `WIKILINK_STYLE` | `'LINKTITLE'` | Set to `'LINKTITLE'` for `[[WikiPage|Text to display]]` format, leave empty for `[[Text to display|WikiPage]]` format (default) |
0ec9a7 Otterwiki Robot 2026-03-15 17:21:05
Fixed typos
73
| `MAX_FORM_MEMORY_SIZE` | `1000000` | The maximum size of a submitted form, see the [Flask documentation](https://flask.palletsprojects.com/en/stable/config/#MAX_FORM_MEMORY_SIZE). Increase this if you have really large pages to edit and save. |
f02b8f Ralph Thesen 2024-03-23 17:44:24
Updated configuration: added DISABLE_REGISTRATION, SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_*, AUTH_METHOD, COMMIT_MESSAGE, RETAIN_PAGE_NAME_CASE, GIT_WEB_SERVER
74
40563c Ivan Novohatski 2026-02-03 12:09:51
added missing vars, updated structure
75
### Repository Management
76
e8f97a Ivan Novohatski 2026-02-03 17:26:45
added link to a new repomgmt guide
77
For a detailed guide on **Repository Management** settings, please follow this link: [[Repository Management|Configuration/Repository Management]]
78
40563c Ivan Novohatski 2026-02-03 12:09:51
added missing vars, updated structure
79
| Variable | Example | Description |
80
| ---------------- | ---------- | -------------- |
81
| `GIT_WEB_SERVER` | `False` | Set to to `True` to allow cloning the wiki via git+http(s) |
82
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
83
### Mail configuration
84
beb69b Ralph Thesen 2026-01-28 22:08:09
updated link to Flask-Mail
85
An Otter Wiki is using [Flask-Mail](https://flask-mail.readthedocs.io/en/latest/).
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
86
87
| Variable | Example | Description |
88
|------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------|
89
| `MAIL_DEFAULT_SENDER` | `'otterwiki@example.com'` | The sender address of all mails |
90
| `MAIL_SERVER` | `'smtp.googlemail.com'` | The smtp server address |
91
| `MAIL_PORT` | `465` | The smtp server port |
92
| `MAIL_USERNAME` | `'USERNAME'` | Username for the mail account |
93
| `MAIL_PASSWORD` | `'PASSWORD'` | Password for the mail account |
94
| `MAIL_USE_TLS` | `False` | Use TLS encrytion |
95
| `MAIL_USE_SSL` | `True` | Use SSL encryption |
96
f02b8f Ralph Thesen 2024-03-23 17:44:24
Updated configuration: added DISABLE_REGISTRATION, SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_*, AUTH_METHOD, COMMIT_MESSAGE, RETAIN_PAGE_NAME_CASE, GIT_WEB_SERVER
97
### Authentication configuration
98
99
| Variable | Example | Description |
100
|------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------|
101
| `AUTH_METHOD` | `'SIMPLE'` | See below. |
102
103
Per default an Otter Wiki uses a local database for storing authentication information.
104
105
#### Authentication with `PROXY_HEADER`s
106
107
With `AUTH_METHOD='PROXY_HEADER'` an Otter Wiki expects the headers
108
109
- `x-otterwiki-name`
110
- `x-otterwiki-email`
111
- `x-otterwiki-permissions`
112
113
to be set by the proxy service using forward authentication.
114
0ec9a7 Otterwiki Robot 2026-03-15 17:21:05
Fixed typos
115
The headers `x-otterwiki-name` and `x-otterwiki-email` are used for receiving author information and `x-otterwiki-permissions` a comma separated list of permissions `READ`, `WRITE`, `UPLOAD` and `ADMIN`.
f02b8f Ralph Thesen 2024-03-23 17:44:24
Updated configuration: added DISABLE_REGISTRATION, SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_*, AUTH_METHOD, COMMIT_MESSAGE, RETAIN_PAGE_NAME_CASE, GIT_WEB_SERVER
116
9eb258 Otterwiki Robot 2026-03-15 17:21:35
more detailed infos about AUTH_METHOD='PROXY_HEADER'
117
The header names can be customized via the following variables:
118
119
| Variable | Default | Description |
120
|-----------------------------|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------|
121
| `AUTH_HEADERS_USERNAME` | `'x-otterwiki-name'` | Header carrying the authenticated user's name |
122
| `AUTH_HEADERS_EMAIL` | `'x-otterwiki-email'` | Header carrying the authenticated user's email |
123
| `AUTH_HEADERS_PERMISSIONS` | `'x-otterwiki-permissions'` | Header carrying the authenticated user's permissions |
124
f02b8f Ralph Thesen 2024-03-23 17:44:24
Updated configuration: added DISABLE_REGISTRATION, SIDEBAR_MENUTREE_*, AUTH_METHOD, COMMIT_MESSAGE, RETAIN_PAGE_NAME_CASE, GIT_WEB_SERVER
125
A simplified proof of concept can be found on github: [otterwiki/docs/auth_examples/header-auth](https://github.com/redimp/otterwiki/tree/main/docs/auth_examples/header-auth).
126
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
127
### Advanced configuration
128
129
This applies only when you create the `settings.cfg` manually. Create your
130
`settings.cfg` based upon the `settings.cfg.skeleton` and set the
131
variables fitting to your environment.
132
133
| Variable | Example | Description |
134
|------------------|-----------------|----------------------------------------------|
135
| `SECRET_KEY` | `'CHANGE ME'` | Choose a random string that is used to encrypt user session data |
136
| `REPOSITORY` | `'/path/to/the/repository/root'` | The absolute path to the repository storing the wiki pages |
137
| `SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI` | `'sqlite:////path/to/the/sqlite/file'` | The absolute path to the database storing the user credentials |
0ec9a7 Otterwiki Robot 2026-03-15 17:21:05
Fixed typos
138
| `LOG_LEVEL` | `'DEBUG'` | Set the log level to one of `'DEBUG'`, `'INFO'`, `'WARNING'`, `'ERROR'`. |
6730dd Otterwiki Robot 2026-03-15 17:22:19
Config added new settings
139
| `ADMIN_USER_EMAIL` | `'admin@example.com'` | If set, only the user with this email address will be granted admin privileges on sign-up. |
140
| `RENDERER_HTML_ALLOWLIST` | `''` | Comma-separated list of additional HTML tags allowed in rendered Markdown. Leave empty to use the default allowlist. |
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
141
142
For the `SQLALCHEMY_DATABASE_URI` see <https://flask-sqlalchemy.palletsprojects.com/en/2.x/config/#connection-uri-format>.
143
421730 Ralph Thesen 2025-06-26 08:48:51
How to configure the user/UID running the docker process
144
#### User UID running docker process
145
146
Per default in both the default and the `-slim` image the process running An Otter Wiki (and accessing the files in repository) is running with `uid=33`.
147
148
##### UID in the default image
149
150
To change this when using the default image, please configure the environment variables `PUID` and `PGID`. For example to run as user with `uid=1000 gid=1000` use this `compose.yaml`:
151
152
```yaml
153
services:
154
otterwiki:
155
image: redimp/otterwiki:2
156
restart: unless-stopped
be1525 valankar 2025-08-06 08:32:11
Update configuration.md When using env, I get: validating /home/valankar/otterwiki/docker-compose.yaml: services.otterwiki additional properties 'env' not allowed Change to environment.
157
environment:
421730 Ralph Thesen 2025-06-26 08:48:51
How to configure the user/UID running the docker process
158
PUID: 1000
905b1a valankar 2025-08-06 08:39:35
Update configuration.md Update correct environment variable for GID.
159
PGID: 1000
421730 Ralph Thesen 2025-06-26 08:48:51
How to configure the user/UID running the docker process
160
ports:
161
- 8080:80
162
volumes:
163
- ./app-data:/app-data
164
```
165
166
##### USER in the `-slim` image
167
168
The `-slim` image is running as unpriviliged user must therefore be configured differently: In the way docker intended, with configuring the [user](https://docs.docker.com/reference/compose-file/services/#user). For example to run as user with `uid=1000 gid=1000` use this `compose.yaml`:
169
170
```yaml
171
services:
172
otterwiki:
173
image: redimp/otterwiki:2-slim
174
restart: unless-stopped
175
user: 1000:1000
176
ports:
177
- 8080:8080
178
volumes:
179
- ./app-data:/app-data
180
```
181
182
Make sure that the configured `uid:gid` has read- and write permissions to volume mounted as `/app-data`.
183
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
184
### Reverse Proxy and IPs
185
33bd57 deseven 2025-12-23 16:17:54
added headers to all reverse proxy configs, updated configuration section
186
Running the docker container behind a reverse proxy will show only the IP of the reverse proxy in the log files. With setting `REAL_IP_FROM` to the ip address or network of the reverse proxy, the IPs of the connection clients will be logged.
34401d Ralph Thesen 2023-11-18 14:40:43
Added documentation for configuring An Otter Wiki
187
33bd57 deseven 2025-12-23 16:17:54
added headers to all reverse proxy configs, updated configuration section
188
| Variable | Example | Description |
189
|------------------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------|
190
| `REAL_IP_FROM` | `'172.20.0.0/24'` | Configure wiki to respect `X-Real-IP` header in the requests coming from this IP or network. |