Configuration Editor (Advanced): THE MODULE

[tshif]

Configuration Editor (Advanced): Module for FreePBX/PBXIAF
Many configuration files used and maintained by FreePBX should never be edited by hand. In fact, changes made in such places are often lost as soon as we apply a configuration change in FreePBX.

Because of that – and because its so easy to completely incapacitate your system by making mistakes in editing these files – the development team at PBXIAF made the decision to hide these files from the FreePBX Config Edit module. Out of sight is out of mind, and, as I’m sure somebody has said once, you’d have to be out of your mind to edit most of the hidden files in the first place.

That being said – there are times when a great deal can be learned, and troubleshooting enhanced, by being able to at least see the contents of these otherwise hidden configuration files.

It is possible to change the way that the Config Editor of FreePBX works – make it show all the files, but that requires a command line dance and seems an unnecessarily cumbersome thing to do.

I am pleased to notify you that the FreePBX module “Config Editor (Advanced)” is now available for general use. (I released this about a week ago and forgot to write about it – oops!)

Easy to install and use – this version gives access to all the config files – and leaves it up to your own good judgment when to use the ability. (Another way of saying this is, for heavens sake, be careful, and remember, YOU are responsible for what you do with this tool and capability – not me. Don’t come to me with a long face if you use this tool to edit your PBX into a comatose state! J )

It co-resides just fine on a system that has the standard Config Editor installed.

Step 1: Download the module to your desktop from here
Don’t decompress the archive!

Step 2: Use a web browser to access FreePBX on your Asterisk PBX. Choose Tools, Module Admin, Upload Module. Now Browse to the configeditadviaf-1.0.0.tgz file on your Desktop and click the Upload button. Now click local module administration, scroll down and click on Config Editor (Advanced) and then the Install radio button. Now click Process, and complete the usual FreePBX install and reload process.

You should now have the Config Editor (Advanced) selection right underneath the regular Config Edit in the FreePBX Menu.

This module is compatible with the security models used in, and has been tested to work with the following distributions:
Fonicatec PABX
Foncordiax
PBX In A Flash
TrixBOX CE

Asterisk Version Compatibility
This module has been tested and found to work correctly with Asterisk versions 1.4 and 1.6.


Until next time -

[tshif]

Does anyone have success or failures to share with this module?

[jpe]

I just d/l and install. On a cursory look, all looks as it described. The files hidden in the standard version are shown and viewable.

If .additional are edited, do the changes stick via?

* Running Asterisk Version : Asterisk 1.4.21.2
* Asterisk Source Version : 1.4.21.2
* Zaptel Source Version : 1.4.12.1
* Libpri Source Version : 1.4.9
* Addons Source Version : 1.4.7
************************************************** ******************
bite on 192.168.1.101 - eth0
CentOS release 5.2 (Final) :32 Bit Kernel: 2.6.18-92.1.22.el5

[jmullinix]

Tony,

Success. It is a work of art. Being able to see how the code is written lets me write better custom stuff in the _custom.conf files.

Thank you for the module.

[krzykat]

I always just go to the etc/asterisk and use joe if I need to modify those files.

[tshif]

Being able to see how the code is written lets me write better custom stuff in the _custom.conf files.

I couldn't agree more! Thanks for sharing your success.

[jroper]

If .additional are edited, do the changes stick via?

No not at all, they will be overwritten next pressing of the orange bar.

advanced editor is a nice way of navigating through the FreePBX dialplan to see how it works, which in turn, should have a mind to, helps you write custom dialplans to extend and modify the functionality.

However, you should have a very clear understanding of which file does what and how before editing files that are usually hidden by standard configedit, they've been hidden to prevent less experienced people gubbing their system by messing with the wrong file.

This relatively old post gives an rough overview of how FreePX config files work together.

http://www.pbxinaflash.com/forum/showthread.php?t=669

Joe