Skip to main content

​
Overview

The config command manages Datoso’s configuration system, which uses INI-style files with sections and options. Configuration can be set globally or locally per project.

​
Configuration Locations

  • Global: ~/.config/datoso/datoso.config (default)
  • Local: .datosorc in the current directory
Local configuration overrides global settings when present.

​
Basic Usage

​
Show Current Configuration

Display all active configuration settings: 
datoso config
Output format: JSON with all sections and options Example output: 
{
    "PATHS": {
        "DatPath": "/home/user/dats",
        "DownloadPath": "/tmp/datoso",
        "DatosoPath": "~/.datoso"
    },
    "PROCESS": {
        "Overwrite": "false",
        "AutoMergeEnabled": "true"
    }
}

​
Configuration File Path

Get the path to the database file: 
datoso config --path
​
-p, --path
flag
Display the full path to the Datoso database file
Output example: 
/home/user/.datoso/datoso.db

​
Get Configuration Values

Retrieve a specific configuration value: 
datoso config --get <SECTION>.<Option>
​
--get
string
Get the value of a configuration option in SECTION.Option format (e.g., PROCESS.Overwrite)
Example: 
datoso config --get PATHS.DatPath
datoso config --get PROCESS.Overwrite

​
Scope Options for Get

​
-g, --global
flag
Read from global configuration file (default)
​
-l, --local
flag
Read from local .datosorc file
Example: 
# Get from global config
datoso config --get PATHS.DatPath --global

# Get from local config
datoso config --get PROCESS.Overwrite --local
If the value is not found in the specified location, the active configuration value is shown.

​
Set Configuration Values

Modify a configuration value: 
datoso config --set <SECTION>.<Option> <value>
​
--set
string[]
Set a configuration option with format: SECTION.Option value (e.g., PROCESS.Overwrite false)
Example: 
datoso config --set PROCESS.Overwrite true
datoso config --set PATHS.DatPath /home/user/roms/dats

​
Scope Options for Set

​
-g, --global
flag
Save to global configuration file (default)
​
-l, --local
flag
Save to local .datosorc file in current directory
Example: 
# Set globally
datoso config --set PROCESS.Overwrite true --global

# Set locally (for current project)
datoso config --set PROCESS.Overwrite false --local
If the configuration option doesn’t exist, you’ll be prompted to confirm before creating it.

​
Save Configuration

Save the current active configuration to a file: 
datoso config --save
​
-s, --save
flag
Save configuration to a .datosorc file
​
-d, --directory
string
default:"~"
Directory to save .datosorc file
  • ~ - Save to home directory
  • . - Save to current directory
Example: 
# Save to home directory
datoso config --save --directory ~

# Save to current directory
datoso config --save --directory .

​
Update System Rules

Update DAT processing rules from the remote Google Sheets source: 
datoso config --rules-update
​
-ru, --rules-update
flag
Update system rules from configured Google Sheets URL
Example: 
datoso config --rules-update
This command:
  1. Connects to the configured Google Sheets URL
  2. Downloads the latest DAT rules
  3. Updates the local rules database
  4. Reports success or errors

​
Update MIA Database

Update the Missing In Action (MIA) database from the remote source: 
datoso config --mia-update
​
-mu, --mia-update
flag
Update MIA database from configured Google Sheets URL
Example: 
datoso config --mia-update
This command:
  1. Connects to the configured MIA database URL
  2. Downloads the latest MIA information
  3. Updates the local MIA database
  4. Reports success or errors

​
Common Configuration Sections

​
PATHS Section

Controls file system locations: 
[PATHS]
DatPath = /home/user/dats          # Output directory for processed DAT files
DownloadPath = /tmp/datoso          # Temporary download location
DatosoPath = ~/.datoso              # Datoso data directory
DatabaseFile = datoso.db            # Database filename
Example: 
datoso config --set PATHS.DatPath /mnt/storage/dats
datoso config --set PATHS.DownloadPath /tmp

​
PROCESS Section

Controls DAT processing behavior: 
[PROCESS]
Overwrite = false                   # Overwrite existing DAT files
AutoMergeEnabled = true             # Enable automatic merging
ParentMergeEnabled = true           # Enable parent deduplication
DatIgnoreRegEx =                    # Regex pattern to ignore DAT files
Example: 
datoso config --set PROCESS.Overwrite true
datoso config --set PROCESS.AutoMergeEnabled false

​
IMPORT Section

Controls import behavior: 
[IMPORT]
IgnoreRegEx = .*test.*              # Regex pattern to ignore during import
Example: 
datoso config --set IMPORT.IgnoreRegEx ".*\\(Beta\\).*"

​
COMMAND Section

Runtime command options: 
[COMMAND]
Quiet = false                       # Suppress non-error output
Verbose = false                     # Enable detailed output
These are typically set via command-line flags rather than configuration.

​
LOG Section

Logging configuration: 
[LOG]
LogFile = datoso.log                # Log filename

​
Configuration Workflow Examples

​
Initial Setup

# Set output directory
datoso config --set PATHS.DatPath /home/user/roms/dats --global

# Set download directory
datoso config --set PATHS.DownloadPath /tmp/datoso --global

# Enable auto-merge
datoso config --set PROCESS.AutoMergeEnabled true --global

​
Project-Specific Configuration

# Create project directory
mkdir my-romset
cd my-romset

# Set local overwrite behavior
datoso config --set PROCESS.Overwrite true --local

# Verify local config
datoso config --get PROCESS.Overwrite --local

​
View Active Configuration

# Show all settings
datoso config

# Show specific section values
datoso config | grep PATHS

​
Update Databases

# Update both rules and MIA
datoso config --rules-update
datoso config --mia-update

​
Configuration Format

The configuration files use INI format with case-sensitive option names: 
[SECTION_NAME]
OptionName = value
AnotherOption = another value

[ANOTHER_SECTION]
SomeOption = value
Important notes:
  • Section names are typically UPPERCASE
  • Option names use PascalCase (first letter uppercase)
  • Values are strings by default
  • Boolean values: true or false
  • Paths can use ~ for home directory

​
Troubleshooting

​
Invalid Configuration Key

Error: Invalid config key, must be in <SECTION>.<Option> format Solution: Ensure you’re using the format SECTION.Option with a period separator: 
# Correct
datoso config --set PATHS.DatPath /path/to/dats

# Incorrect
datoso config --set PATHS/DatPath /path/to/dats
datoso config --set DatPath /path/to/dats

​
Option Not Found

Warning: Config option not found in current config file You’ll be prompted to confirm before creating new options. This prevents typos from creating invalid configuration entries.

​
Rules/MIA Update Fails

If --rules-update or --mia-update fails:
  1. Check your internet connection
  2. Run with verbose output: datoso -v config --rules-update
  3. Check the log: datoso log
  4. Run doctor: datoso doctor

​
Next Steps

Build docs developers (and LLMs) love

Get started for freeTalk to us