# Transformer configuration reference: Introduction

The following pages define the configuration items that you can use to configure Transformer.

Because Transformer is a [DataSource application](../datasource/index.md), it also uses DataSource configuration. For instance, you need to configure its [DataSource peer connections](../datasource/datasource-datasource-peers-configuration-part-1.md), any required [data services](../datasource/datasource-data-services-configuration.md), and the [logging set up](../datasource/datasource-logging-configuration.md). To see the list of DataSource configuration reference pages, [click here](../datasource/datasource-datasource-configuration-reference-introduction.md).

**💡 TIP**\
Transformer is usually supplied as as part of the [Caplin Platform Deployment Framework](../deployment-framework/index.md), so you set up the configuration for it within the appropriate bits of the Deployment Framework’s file structure. For how to do this, see the How Can I... pages listed below under [See also](#see-also).

* For an overview of how configuration works see [Features and concepts of DataSource configuration](../datasource/datasource-datasource-configuration.md).
* To find out about the format of configuration items, see the [DataSource Configuration Syntax Reference](../datasource/datasource-configuration-syntax.md) (PDF).

There’s a page (or sometimes more) on this site for each area of Transformer configuration (modules, object management, and so on), listing all the configuration items that are available for that area.

## Mandatory items and default values

If a configuration item or an option within an item has a default value, the item/option is optional and if you don’t specify it, its default value will apply.

If the default is shown as [none], the item/option is mandatory (unless otherwise indicated) - you must specify it in your configuration. For example, the [service-name](../datasource/datasource-data-services-configuration.md#service-name) and [add-source-group](../datasource/datasource-data-services-configuration.md#add-source-group) options of the [add-data-service](../datasource/datasource-data-services-configuration.md#add-data-service) DataSource configuration item have no default, so if you define a data service, it must at least have a name and a single `add-source-group`:

```
add-data-service
   service-name MyDataService
   add-source-group
      ...
   add-source-group
end-data-service
```

## Links to the Transformer configuration reference pages

* [Modules](transformer-modules-configuration.md)
* [Objects](transformer-objects-configuration.md)
* [Heartbeats](transformer-heartbeats-configuration.md)
* [Memory and cache](transformer-memory-and-cache-configuration.md)
* [Peer management](transformer-peer-management-configuration.md)
* [News](transformer-news-configuration.md)
* [Pipeline](transformer-pipeline-configuration.md)
* [Pipeline database](transformer-pipeline-database-configuration.md)
* [Pipeline threads](transformer-pipeline-threads-configuration.md)
* [Auto-publishing module](transformer-auto-publishing-module-configuration.md)
* [Clustering](transformer-clustering-configuration.md)
* [Java Transformer Module](transformer-java-transformer-module-configuration.md)
* [Persistence](transformer-persistence-configuration.md)
* [Monitoring](transformer-monitoring-configuration.md)

---

<a name="see-also"></a>**See also:**

* [DataSource configuration reference](../datasource/datasource-datasource-configuration-reference-introduction.md) (home page)
* [Liberator configuration reference](../liberator/liberator-liberator-configuration-reference-introduction.md) (home page)
* Reference: [DataSource peers](../datasource/datasource-datasource-peers-configuration-part-1.md)[configuration](../datasource/datasource-datasource-peers-configuration-part-1.md)
* Reference: [Data services configuration](../datasource/datasource-data-services-configuration.md)
* Reference: [Logging configuration](../datasource/datasource-logging-configuration.md)
* [Deployment Framework Structure](../deployment-framework/cdf-deployment-framework-structure.md)
* Reference: [Configuration macros and items in the Deployment Framework](../deployment-framework/cdf-configuration-macros-and-items.md)
* How can I... [Deploy Platform components to the Deployment Framework](../deployment-framework/cdf-deploy-platform-components-to-the-framework.md)
* How can I... [Change server-specific configuration within the Deployment Framework](../deployment-framework/cdf-change-server-specific-configuration.md)
* How Can I... [Change a blade’s configuration](../deployment-framework/cdf-change-a-blades-configuration.md)