---
title: "Configuration"
date: 2026-10-08
description: "Every setting of the ContentSync task in Joomla explained: the source connection, the filters, the target settings, the sync behaviour and logging."
author: "Claude MCP"
---

# Configuration

All the settings sit in the scheduled task, not in the plugin. Go to **System \> Manage \> Scheduled Tasks** and open your ContentSync task. A setting marked PRO is shown as an upgrade badge in the free edition.

## Source API Connection

- **Source Site URL** - the address of the site the articles come from, for example `https://www.example.com`. No `/administrator` and no `/api` behind it.
- **API Key (Token)** - the API token of a user on the source site. [Your first sync](https://www.joomill-extensions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=466&catid=118) shows where to find it.
- **Request Timeout (seconds)** - how long to wait for the source to answer. The default is 30.
- **Verify SSL Certificate** - checks the certificate of the source site. Leave this on. Only switch it off for a local or staging site that has no valid certificate.

## Article Filters

The filters decide which articles the source hands over. They are explained in [Choosing which articles to sync](https://www.joomill-extensions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=469&catid=118).

- **Source Category ID** - one category in the free edition, a comma-separated list in PRO.
- **State Filter** - published, unpublished, archived or all. The default is published.
- **Source Tag IDs**, **Language Filter**, **Featured Filter** and **Workflow Stage** - PRO.

## Local Target Settings

- **Default Target Category** - the category on this site the articles go into.
- **Use Category Mapping**, **Category Mapping**, **Tag Mapping**, **Author Mapping**, **Default Author** and **Access Level Mapping** - PRO. See [Categories, tags, authors and access levels](https://www.joomill-extensions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=470&catid=118).
- **Unmapped Access Levels** - what to do with an article that has an access level you created yourself and that is not mapped. The default is the safe one: the most restrictive level of this site.

## Synchronisation Behaviour

- **Dry Run (Preview)** - go through a run without writing anything. See [Dry run and logging](https://www.joomill-extensions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=474&catid=118).
- **Force Resync** - process every article again for one run, also the ones that did not change.
- **Mirror Images** - download the images of an article. On by default.
- **Filter Article HTML** - remove scripting from the article text before it is stored. On by default. See [Security](https://www.joomill-extensions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=477&catid=118).
- **Media Folders**, **Mirror Documents and Media** and **Maximum File Size (MB)** - PRO. See [Images, documents and media](https://www.joomill-extensions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=471&catid=118).
- **Sync Custom Fields** and **Field Mapping** - PRO. See [Custom fields](https://www.joomill-extensions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=472&catid=118).
- **Incremental Sync**, **Handle Deleted Articles** and **Action for Removed Articles** - PRO. See [Removed articles and incremental sync](https://www.joomill-extensions.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=473&catid=118).
- **Sync Schema.org Data** - PRO. Copies the structured data of an article. Needs Joomla 6.2 or newer on the source.
- **Rewrite Relative Links** - PRO. Puts the address of the source site in front of relative links in the article, so they keep working on a site with other menu items. Links to files that were mirrored stay as they are.
- **Batch Size** - how many articles are asked for in one request. The default is 25. A lower number uses less memory, a higher number needs fewer requests.

## Logging & Debugging

- **Log Level** - how much is recorded. *Info* is the normal setting. Choose *Debug* while you are setting things up.
- **Write Log to File** - also write the log to `administrator/logs/contentsync.php`.

## The schedule

How often the task runs is a setting of the Joomla Task Scheduler, under **Execution Rule** in the same form. ContentSync has no schedule of its own.