The basic structure of the configuration file is the following. The file is split into sections. Every section begins with "[SECTIONNAME]" and contains a number of options of the form "OPTION=VALUE". Empty lines and lines beginning with a "#" are treated as comments. Files containing default values for many of the options described below are installed under $TALER\_PREFIX/share/taler/config.d/. The configuration file given with \-c to Taler binaries overrides these defaults.
The "[PATHS]" section is special in that it contains paths that can be referenced using "$" in other configuration values that specify filenames. For Taler, it commonly contains the following paths:
.IPTALER_HOME
Home directory of the user, usually "${HOME}". Can be overwritten by testcases by setting ${TALER_TEST_HOME}.
.IPTALER_DATA_HOME
Where should Taler store its long-term data. Usually "${TALER_HOME}/.local/share/taler/"
.IPTALER_CONFIG_HOME
Where is the Taler configuration kept. Usually "${TALER_HOME}/.config/taler/"
.IPTALER_CACHE_HOME
Where should Taler store cached data. Usually "${TALER_HOME}/.cache/taler/"
.IPTALER_RUNTIME_DIR
Where should Taler store system runtime data (like UNIX domain sockets). Usually "${TMP}/taler-system-runtime".
.SHEXCHANGEOPTIONS
The following options are from the "[exchange]" section and used by most exchange tools:
How quickly do we want the exchange to send us money? Note that wire transfer fees will be higher if we ask for money to be wired often. Given as a relative time, i.e. "5 s"
.IPDEFAULT_MAX_WIRE_FEE
Maximum wire fee we are willing to accept from exchanges. Given as a Taler amount, i.e. "EUR:0.1"
.IPDEFAULT_MAX_DEPOSIT_FEE
Maximum deposit fee we are willing to cover. Given as a Taler amount, i.e. "EUR:0.1"
The merchant configuration must specify a set of instances, containing at least the "default" instance. The following options must be given in each "[instance-NAME]" section:
.IPKEYFILE
Name of the file where the instance\'s private key is to be stored, i.e. "${TALER_CONFIG_HOME}/merchant/instance/name.priv"
.IPNAME
Human-readable name of the instance, i.e. "Kudos Inc."
Additionally, for instances that support tipping, the following options are required:
.IPTIP_EXCHANGE
Base-URL of the exchange that holds the reserve for tipping, i.e. "https://exchange.demo.taler.net/"
.IPTIP_EXCHANGE_PRIV_FILENAME
Filename with the private key granting access to the reserve, i.e. "${TALER_CONFIG_HOME}/merchant/reserve/tip.priv"
.SHKNOWNEXCHANGES(formerchantsandwallets)
The merchant configuration can include a list of known exchanges if the merchant wants to specify that certain exchanges are explicitly trusted. For each trusted exchange, a section [exchange-NAME] must exist, where NAME is a merchant-given name for the exchange. The following options must be given in each "[exchange-NAME]" section:
.IPBASE_URL
Base URL of the exchange, i.e. "https://exchange.demo.taler.net/"
.IPMASTER_KEY
Crockford Base32 encoded master public key, public version of the exchange\'s long\-time offline signing key
.IPCURRENCY
Name of the currency for which this exchange is trusted, i.e. "KUDOS"
.SHKNOWNAUDITORS(formerchantsandwallets)
The merchant configuration can include a list of known exchanges if the merchant wants to specify that certain auditors are explicitly trusted. For each trusted exchange, a section [auditor-NAME] must exist, where NAME is a merchant-given name for the exchange. The following options must be given in each "[auditor-NAME]" section:
.IPBASE_URL
Base URL of the auditor, i.e. "https://auditor.demo.taler.net/"
.IPAUDITOR_KEY
Crockford Base32 encoded auditor public key.
.IPCURRENCY
Name of the currency for which this auditor is trusted, i.e. "KUDOS"
.SHACCOUNTOPTIONS(forexchangesandmerchants)
An exchange (or merchant) can have multiple bank accounts. The following options are for sections named "[account-SOMETHING]". The SOMETHING is arbitrary and should be chosen to uniquely identify the bank account for the operator. Additional authentication options may need to be specified in the account section depending on the PLUGIN used.
.IPURL
Specifies the payto://-URL of the account. The general format is payto://METHOD/DETAILS. This option is used for exchanges and merchants.
.IPWIRE_RESPONSE
Specifies the name of the file in which the /wire response for this account should be located. Used by the Taler exchange service and the taler\-exchange\-wire tool and the taler\-merchant\-httpd (to generate the files).
.IPPLUGIN
Name of the plugin can be used to access the account (i.e. "taler-bank" or "ebics"). Used by the merchant backend for back office operations (i.e. to identify incoming wire transfers) and by the exchange.
.IPENABLE_DEBIT
Must be set to YES for the accounts that the taler\-exchange\-aggregator should debit. Not used by merchants.
.IPENABLE_CREDIT
Must be set to YES for the accounts that the taler\-exchange\-wirewatch should check for credits. (It is yet uncertain if the merchant implementation may check this flag as well.)
.IPHONOR_instance
Must be set to YES for the instances (where "instance" is the section name of the instance) of the merchant backend that should allow incoming wire transfers for this bank account.
.IPACTIVE_instance
Must be set to YES for the instances (where "instance" is the section name of the instance) of the merchant backend that should use this bank account in new offers/contracts. Setting ACTIVE_instance to YES requires also setting ENABLE_instance to YES.
.SHTALER-BANKAUTHENTICATIONOPTIONS(foraccounts)
The following authentication options are supported by the "taler-bank" wire plugin. They must be specified in the "[account-]" section that uses the "taler-bank" plugin.
.IPTALER_BANK_AUTH_METHOD
Authentication method to use. "none" or "basic" are currently supported.
.IPUSERNAME
Username to use for authentication. Used with the "basic" authentication method.
.IPPASSWORD
Password to use for authentication. Used with the "basic" authentication method.
.SHEBICSAUTHENTICATIONOPTIONS
The following authentication options are supported by the "ebics" wire plugin. They must be specified in the "[account-]" section that uses the "ebics" plugin.
.IPNONE
Currently the "ebics" implementation is incomplete and does not support authentication.
.SHEXCHANGEWIREFEEOPTIONS
For each supported wire method (i.e. "x-taler-bank" or "sepa"), sections named "[fees-METHOD]" state the (aggregate) wire transfer fee and the reserve closing fees charged by the exchange. Note that fees are specified using the name of the wire method, not by the plugin name. You need to replace "YEAR" in the option name by the calendar year for which the fee should apply. Usually, fees should be given for serveral years in advance.
.IPWIRE-FEE-YEAR
Aggregate wire transfer fee merchants are charged in YEAR. Specified as a Taler amount using the usual amount syntax (CURRENCY:VALUE.FRACTION).
.IPCLOSING-FEE-YEAR
Reserve closing fee customers are charged in YEAR. Specified as a Taler amount using the usual amount syntax (CURRENCY:VALUE.FRACTION).