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P4 Search Documentation | 2025.2

# Runtime configuration

When P4 Search is installed and ready to use, the P4 Search configuration can be changed before use if required.

The location of the configuration file is specified by setting JVM property com.perforce.search.config, the environment, or a file called config.properties in the current local execution directory.

The order of precedence for determining the location of the configuration file is:

1. JVM property com.perforce.search.configure located in sbin/p4search.vmoptions
2. The Environment, see Set the configuration file location .
3. A local file called config.properties, see Set a local configuration file from the web UI.

## Set the configuration file location

#### Linux:

Run the following command:

export com.perforce.search.config=<location>

Where <location> is the location of the configuration file. For example: /etc/p4search/config.properties

#### Windows:

Run the following P4 Server command:

p4 set -s com.perforce.search.config=<location>

Where <location> is the location of the configuration file. For example: C:\Program Files\Perforce\P4Search\config.properties

The p4 set command is a convenient way to set the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.

## Set a local configuration file from the web UI

You must be an administrator to configure P4 Search.

If no configuration is provided for P4 Search, P4 Search will not start. You must provide a config.properties file for P4 Search, the configuration can then be edited from the web UI.

Navigate to the P4 Search configuration page using the connection details you set for the P4 Search service during the installation.

For example:

http://localhost:1601/settings/configure

When you have saved the configuration file, restart the service.

## Related topics

- For details of the P4 Search, P4 Server, and Elasticsearch configuration, see Advanced configuration.
- API endpoints
- Data model

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