Check your version
This tutorial covers a topic in Drupal 7 which may or may not be the version you're using. We're keeping this tutorial online as a courtesy to users of Drupal 7, but we consider it archived.
Learn how to use Features to manage configuration changes and understand the configuration change workflow in a team environment.
Goal
Use the Features contributed module to export site configuration to code.
Prerequisites
You will need the following knowledge and skills. If you need a review, check out the Additional resources section at the bottom of this page.
- Create and update features.
- Share configuration changes between developers.
Part 1: Create and save features
Create a feature for your Movie Review content type, and save it in sites/all/modules/features.
Part 2: Enable features in a new deployment
Create a brand new Drupal installation. This is a simulation of another installation on another developer's machine.
Part 3: Update configuration changes using Features
Create a new Awards field in your Movie Review content type in your original website.
Part 4: Apply configuration changes on another project
Revert all feature changes and check to see if your new Awards field has been created on the new site.
Recap
- Features can be used to export configuration changes within Drupal, and can share configuration changes within a team.
- Developers should always revert Features (
drush fra) to apply any configuration changes in the codebase. - Features must be managed with care to avoid conflicts.
- Configuration changes must always be pushed to a live environment via feature changes or update hooks. Altering configuration on the live site via the UI should be avoided.
Further your understanding
- Continue to the next lesson: Movie Project: Install a WYSIWYG Editor.
Additional resources
- Documentation: Bundling site settings using Features (Drupal.org)
- Video: Drupal Deployment with Features and Drush (Drupalize.Me)
