By default, this playbook installs the [Element](https://github.com/element-hq/element-web) Matrix web client for you. If that's okay, you can skip this document.
If you'd like for the playbook to not install Element (or to uninstall it if it was previously installed), you can disable it in your configuration file (`inventory/host_vars/matrix.example.com/vars.yml`):
Their defaults are defined in [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml) and they ultimately end up in the generated `/matrix/element/config.json` file (on the server). This file is generated from the [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2) template.
**If there's an existing variable** which controls a setting you wish to change, you can simply define that variable in your configuration file (`inventory/host_vars/matrix.example.com/vars.yml`) and [re-run the playbook](installing.md) to apply the changes.
Alternatively, **if there is no pre-defined variable** for an Element setting you wish to change:
- you can either **request a variable to be created** (or you can submit such a contribution yourself). Keep in mind that it's **probably not a good idea** to create variables for each one of Element's various settings that rarely get used.
- or, you can **extend and override the default configuration** ([`config.json.j2`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/templates/config.json.j2)) by making use of the `matrix_client_element_configuration_extension_json_` variable. You can find information about this in [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml).
- or, if extending the configuration is still not powerful enough for your needs, you can **override the configuration completely** using `matrix_client_element_configuration_default` (or `matrix_client_element_configuration`). You can find information about this in [`roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml`](../roles/custom/matrix-client-element/defaults/main.yml).
Or better yet, you can automatically pull it all themes provided by the [aaronraimist/element-themes](https://github.com/aaronraimist/element-themes) project by simply flipping a flag (`matrix_client_element_themes_enabled: true`).
If you make your own theme, we encourage you to submit it to the **aaronraimist/element-themes** project, so that the whole community could easily enjoy it.
Note that for a custom theme to work well, all Element instances that you use must have the same theme installed.