Merge pull request #781 from ExpressionEngine/feature/7.x/global-vars-in-config

Document setting global variables in config file

Author: intoeetive

docs/general/system-configuration-overrides.md

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ WARN: **Warning:** This article covers advanced topics.
 
 By default, ExpressionEngine's system settings are managed in the Control Panel and stored in the database, but these settings can be overridden with one of 3 configuration files: the main configuration file, the site index file, and the CP index file.
 
+You can also [set your own global variables](templates/globals/single-variables.md#custom-global-variables) in the above mentioned files.
+
 ##### Main configuration file
 
 The **main configuration file**, found at `system/user/config/config.php`, is loaded every time the system is run, meaning that config overrides set in `config.php` always affect the system's configuration.

docs/templates/globals/single-variables.md

@@ -255,6 +255,32 @@ NOTE: **Note:** Like the `{current_time}` variable, `{variable_time}` is availab
 
 The email address for the site, as specified in [Email Configuration](control-panel/settings/email.md).
 
+## Custom Global Variables
+
+You can define your own global variables as overrides in your `config.php` file or `index.php` file using `global_vars` property (which itself needs to be an associative array). These variables will be available to all of your templates.
+
+NOTE: Do not confuse these with [Site Template Variables](templates/variable.md), which are defined in the control panel.
+
+When using `index.php` file, you need set `global_vars` property in `$assign_to_config` array. For example:
+
+    $assign_to_config['global_vars'] = array(
+        'show_banner' => 'y',
+    );
+
+When using `config.php` file, you need to set the `$config` array variable. For example:
+
+    $config['global_vars'] = array(
+        'show_banner' => 'n',
+    );
+
+You can use the [environment variables](advanced-usage/env-support.md) for the values of global variables. For example:
+
+    $config['global_vars'] = array(
+        'show_banner' => $_ENV['SHOW_BANNER'],
+    );
+
+Note that the global variables defined in `config.php` file will be overridden by the global variables defined in `index.php` file when a name conflict occurs.
+
 ## Member Variables
 
 [TOC=3]