--- title: Configuration Reference layout: tutorial classnames: - tutorial --- # Configuration Reference The compass configuration file is a ruby file, which means that we can do some clever things if we want to. But don’t let it frighten you; it’s really quite easy to set up your project. ## Basic format Most configuration properties are a simple assignment to a configuration property. For example: css_dir = "stylesheets" Most configuration properties have a value that is a “basic” type. There are three basic types that can be set to a property: * **String** – Text is surrounded by either single or double quotes. E.g. `"this is a string"` * **Symbol** – A symbol starts with a colon and has no spaces in it. Symbols are used to represent values where the set of possible values are limited. E.g. `:foo` or `:foo_bar_baz` * **Boolean** – `true` or `false` There are two kinds of composite values: * **Array** – An Array is a comma delimited list of basic values surrounded by square brackets. E.g. `["one", "two", "three"]`. * **Hash** – A Hash is an association or mapping of one value to another. It is a comma delimited list of associations surrounded by curly brackets. An association is two values separated by `=>`. E.g. `{:foo => "aaa", :bar => "zzz"}` ## Comments Use the hash sign `#` to comment out everything from the hash sign to the end of the line. ## Import Note for Windows Users The backslash character (`\`) is a special character in a string delimited by double quotes (`"`). If you are working with folders in your paths, you should either use **single quotes** to delimit your strings or escape your backslash by doubling it like `"some\\path"`. ## Loading Compass Plugins Compass relies on the ruby `require` mechanism to load other libraries of code. To load a compass-compatible plugin, simply require it at the top of your configuration file. If you used the -r option to access another library at project creation time, this will already be set up for you. Example: require 'ninesixty' require 'susy' ## Overriding Configuration Settings When using the compass command line, configuration options that you set on the command line will override the corresponding settings in your configuration file. ## Inspecting Configuration Settings passed via the Command Line When using the compass command line, configuration options that you set on the command line can be inspected within the configuration file. For instance, if you set the environment: $ compass compile -e production --force Then you can inspect the value like so: output_style = (environment == :production) ? :compressed : :expanded Values that are not set on the CLI will be `nil` even though they will have a default value later on. ## Configuration Properties

Property Name	Type	Description
`project_type`	Symbol	Can be `:stand_alone` or `:rails`. Defaults to `:stand_alone`.
`environment`	Symbol	The environment mode. Defaults to `:production`, can also be `:development`
`project_path`	String	Not needed in `:stand_alone` mode where it can be inferred by context. Sets the path to the root of the project.
`http_path`	String	The path to the project when running within the web server. Defaults to `"/"`.
`css_dir`	String	The directory where the css stylesheets are kept. It is relative to the `project_path`. Defaults to `"stylesheets"`.
`css_path`	String	The full path to where css stylesheets are kept. Defaults to `<project_path>/<css_dir>`.
`http_stylesheets_path`	String	The full http path to stylesheets on the web server. Defaults to `http_path + "/" + css_dir`.
`sass_dir`	String	The directory where the sass stylesheets are kept. It is relative to the `project_path`. Defaults to `"src"`.
`sass_path`	String	The full path to where sass stylesheets are kept. Defaults to `<project_path>/<sass_dir>`.
`images_dir`	String	The directory where the images are kept. It is relative to the `project_path`. Defaults to `"images"`.
`images_path`	String	The full path to where images are kept. Defaults to `<project_path>/<images_dir>`.
`http_images_path`	String	The full http path to images on the web server. Defaults to `http_path + "/" + images_dir`.
`javascripts_dir`	String	The directory where the javascripts are kept. It is relative to the `project_path`. Defaults to `"javascripts"`.
`javascripts_path`	String	The full path to where javascripts are kept. Defaults to `<project_path>/<javascripts_dir>`.
`http_javascripts_path`	String	The full http path to javascripts on the web server. Defaults to `http_path + "/" + javascripts_dir`.
`output_style`	Symbol	The output style for the compiled css. One of: `:nested`, `:expanded`, `:compact`, or `:compressed`.
`relative_assets`	Boolean	Indicates whether the compass helper functions should generate relative urls from the generated css to assets, or absolute urls using the http path for that asset type.
`additional_import_paths`	Array of Strings	Other paths on your system from which to import sass files. See the `add_import_path` function for a simpler approach.
`disable_warnings`	Boolean	Set this to true to silence deprecation warnings.
`sass_options`	Hash	These options are passed directly to the Sass compiler. For more details on the format of sass options, please read the sass options documentation.
`line_comments`	Boolean	Indicates whether line comments should be added to compiled css that says where the selectors were defined. Defaults to false in production mode, true in development mode.
`preferred_syntax`	Symbol	Can be `:scss` or `:sass`. Defaults to `:scss`.
`fonts_dir`	String	The directory where the font files are kept. Standalone projects will default to `<css_dir>/fonts`. Rails projects will default to `"public/fonts"`.
`fonts_path`	String	The full path to where font files are kept. Defaults to `<project_path>/<fonts_dir>`.
`http_fonts_path`	String	The full http path to font files on the web server.
`http_fonts_dir`	String	The relative http path to font files on the web server.

## Configuration Functions **`add_import_path`** – Call this function to add a path to the list of sass import paths for your compass project. E.g.: add_import_path "/Users/chris/work/shared_sass" --- **`asset_host`** – Pass this function a block of code that will define the asset host url to be used. The block must return a string that starts with a protocol (E.g. http). The block will be passed the root-relative url of the asset. For example, this picks one of four asset hosts numbered 0-3, depending on the name of the asset: asset_host do |asset| "http://assets%d.example.com" % (asset.hash % 4) end By default there is no asset host used. When `relative_assets` is true the asset host configuration is ignored. --- **`asset_cache_buster`** – Pass this function a block of code that defines the cache buster strategy to be used. The block must return nil or a string that can be appended to a url as a query parameter. The returned string must not include the starting `?`. The block will be passed the root-relative url of the asset. If the block accepts two arguments, it will also be passed a path that points to the asset on disk — which may or may not exist. # Increment the deploy_version before every release to force cache busting. deploy_version = 1 asset_cache_buster do |http_path, real_path| if File.exists?(real_path) File.mtime(real_path).strftime("%s") else "v=#{deploy_version}" end end To disable the asset cache buster: asset_cache_buster :none --- **`watch`** -- React to changes to arbitrary files within your project. Can be invoked more than once. Example: watch "images/**/*" do |project_dir, relative_path| if File.exists?(File.join(project_dir, relative_path)) puts "File size of #{relative_path} is: #{File.size(File.join(project_dir, relative_path))}" end end This code will be called if the file is added, updated, or removed. Be sure to check for existence to avoid crashing the watcher in the case where the file has been removed.