About The INI Overlay Merger

The INI Overlay Merger combines a base INI file with an overlay INI file, where overlay keys replace or add values in the final resolved configuration.

The merge runs locally in your browser. Use sanitized samples when configuration files contain credentials, private hostnames, or production-only settings.

How to Merge INI Files Online

1. Paste the default configuration into Base INI.
2. Paste environment-specific overrides into Overlay INI.
3. Click Merge INI to apply overlay values by section and key.
4. Review and copy the merged INI output.

Choosing Options Correctly

Base INI:
- Use this for shared defaults that should remain unless overridden.
- Include root-level keys and sectioned keys exactly as the app expects them.

Overlay INI:
- Put only the keys that should replace or add values.
- Matching section/key pairs override the base value.

Common Use Cases

• Preparing staging or production INI files from shared defaults.
• Checking configuration precedence before deployment.
• Combining small override snippets with a larger base file.
• Documenting resolved config examples for teammates.

Quick FAQ

Does the overlay delete keys?
Usually no. Overlay values replace or add keys unless the tool provides a delete marker convention.

Are comments preserved?
Not always. Parsers often focus on sections and keys, so comments and original ordering may be lost.

Is my config uploaded?
No. INI merging is designed to run in the browser.

Why might a key be missing after merging?
Section names, key casing, duplicate keys, or parser rules may not match what the application expects.