While it is quite straightforward to just edit a template file and add our changes, there are situations where this might not be feasible. When a theme-specific variable needs to be routinely modified or in cases where editing template files is not an option, the ideal solution is to upgrade it to a configurable setting. This can be done either by adding a form element by way of a module, or as this recipe will outline, by declaring a theme configuration setting for display on the theme's administration page.
As an example, this recipe will make the disclaimer variable used in an earlier recipe in this chapter, a configurable option.
This recipe is a continuation of the Adding a variable to all node templates recipe from earlier in this chapter. It is assumed that it has been completed successfully.