A presentation on the strongarm module which allows you to access many modules that have not been made features friendly.

1. Advanced Strongarm
Some tricks and tips on using the
Strongarm Features
enhancement module

2. Strongarm
The Strongarm module allows Drupal
Persistent Variables to be exported and
imported via Features modules.

3. Drupal Persistent Variables
• Set by variable_set(name, value)
• Retrieved by variable_get(name, def)
• Values stored in the Variables table
• Used by most modules for simple settings
• Modules use their own Name Space
Prefix (e.g ant = Automatic Node Title)

4. A Case Study
Need:
A Feature for User profiles based on Content Profile nodes types.
Requirements:
- Two Content Profile node types: Contact Info (profile) and
About Me (network_profile)
- Pathauto module settings to automatically alias them under
the /people URL
- All users can create and edit their own profile info
Tools:
Two Drupal sites (source / test )
SQL Query Tool
Devel module (variable editor)
(optional) Editor for source code

5. Expected Outcome
Two Content Types with same setting:
- Fields as defined
- Workflow Default options set to publish but not front page
- Comment settings the same
- Content Profile option checked
- Attachment settings
Pathauto Settings
- Settings in URL Aliases -> Automated Alias Settings ->
Node Paths match.
Authenticated User Role
- Has permissions to “create profile content” and
“create networking_profile content.

6. Features only
Create a New Feature:
- In Edit Component -> Content types: node, add the two content types
- In Edit Components -> Permissions, select the two permissions
- In Edit Components -> Roles: user_role, select “authenticated user”
Outcome:
- Node types and CCK fields get created
- Permissions set in role
- but the node type settings are not set. E.g.
workflow, comments, attachments, content profile use, and the like.
Also, there are no path alias setting.

7. Features with Strongarm
on Automatic
Create a New Feature:
- In Edit Component -> Content types: node, add the two content types
- In Edit Components -> Permissions, select the two permissions
- In Edit Components -> Roles: user_role, select “authenticated user”
Outcome:
- Node types and CCK fields get created
- Permissions set in role
- Standard nodes type settings are set (E.g.
workflow, comments, attachments)
- But content profile use is not set. Also, there are no path alias setting.

8. Where’s Wald..the
Node Type Setting
Finding Node Type Related Settings
Basic assumption: Persistent variable names will contain node_type name
Find related persistent variables using either:
• (Preferred) An SQL Browser Tool to query your site‟s DB using the query
Select * from Variables where name like „%<node_type>%‟
e.g. Select * from Variables where name like „%networking_profile%‟
• Alternatively, use the Devel Variable Editor page and search thru the
listings

9. Where’s Wald.. the NT Setting
Green: Auto added by Strongarm
Red: Need to be manually added

10. Where’s Wald..the
Node Type Setting
Notes:
• Repeat for other content type
• Note the “name spaces” for other variables found.
These are other modules you might want to add as
defaults to your feature as well.
• Look at the values for indications of where it is set/what
it‟s used for.
• Search the source code for the variable_set instances
to validate use (or just keep a good test site db backup
and test it).

11. Features with Strongarm
and Manual Settings
Create a New Feature:
- In Edit Component -> Content types: node, add the two content types
- In Edit Components -> Permissions, select the two permissions
- In Edit Components -> Roles: user_role, select “authenticated user”
- In Edit Components -> Strongarm: variable, add variables found above.
Outcome:
- Node types and CCK fields get created
- Permissions set in role
- Standard nodes type settings are set (E.g.
workflow, comments, attachments)
- Content profile use is set.
- Path auto alias is set

12. Where’s Wald..the
Module Setting
Finding Module Settings
Basic assumption: Persistent variable names will start with module name or
module specific prefix.
Find related persistent variables using either:
• (Preferred) An SQL Browser Tool to query your site‟s DB using the query
Select * from Variables where name like „<module_name>%‟
e.g. Select * from Variables where name like „realname%‟
• Alternatively, use the Devel Variable Editor page and search thru the
listings

13. Where’s Wald..the
Module Setting
Notes:
• Modules may use their own DB tables to store
settings. Strongarm will not work with these.
• Setting may be a DB record id reference or other
complicated structure and will not work.
• The variable name is often the same name as the
admin form field that sets it.
• Look at the “postfix” and values for indications of
where it is set/what it‟s used for.
• Search the source code for the variable_set instances
to validate use (or just keep a good test site db
backup and test it).

14. Conclusion
Strongarm allows for many non-Feature
enabled module settings to be captured in
a Feature Module

15. Questions?