Issues with .env for templates - no such file or directory

[jxs714]

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Hey guys,

I am sure this has been asked many times, but I couldn't find an actual 100% solution and response to fix it. Whenenever I create a docker compose template in portainer, i can never get the .env file to read. Here is my config:

version: '3.8'

services:
  postiz:
    image: IMAGEFILEHERE
    container_name: CONTAINERNAME
    ports:
      - "5000:5000"
    volumes:
      - FOLDER:/FOLDER
    env_file:
      - /opt/FOLDERSFORDOCKERAPPS/DOCKERAPPNAME/.env
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  FOLDER:
    external: true

When I try to run it i get this error

Failed to deploy a stack: failed to resolve services environment: env file /opt/FOLDERSFORDOCKERAPPS/DOCKERAPPNAME/.env not found: stat /opt/FOLDERSFORDOCKERAPPS/DOCKERAPPNAME/.env: no such file or directory

I am using the latest portainer: 2.27.1 LTS

This is a standalone app, not a swarm or group of apps. Is this the wrong way? Or is there a solution to this? Id like to create templates for apps so that I can easily install and update the apps in the future.

[Nick-Portainer]

Hi @jxs714 Have you read our docs around using environment variables with Portainer? In your case if you have the values defined in a .env file you can upload this into Portainer during your stack deployment and have the values manged via Portainers UI - https://docs.portainer.io/user/docker/stacks/add#option-1-web-editor

[jxs714]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for the response. I did read the documentation. Isn't the env_file option supposed to work as intended? or this a bug that hasnt been fixed? Can you not point the env_file directory on the host pc? It seems based on the documentation that I have to create a stack just to be able to upload the .env. Is this correct?

Also, I just tried the swarm option, loaded the .env file and docker compse file, and this is the error I received:

Failed to deploy a stack: failed to resolve services environment: env file /data/compose/212/.env not found: stat /data/compose/212/.env: no such file or directory

[Nick-Portainer]

Hi @jxs714 If you wish to use a .env file for your stack you will need to upload the .env file using the upload button on the deployment screen.