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path

(1) In communications, the route between any two nodes. Same as "line," "channel," "link" or "circuit." (2) In database management, the route from one set of data to another, such as from...

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Definition: path

(1) In communications, the route between any two nodes. Same as "line," "channel," "link" or "circuit."

(2) In database management, the route from one set of data to another, such as from customers to orders.

(3) A selected line or area in an image. See clipping path.

(4) An environment variable that enables programs and batch files to be run from the command line no matter where the command prompt is pointing. See Path environment variable.

(5) The route to a file on a disk. The path shows the hierarchy of folders and subfolders (directories and subdirectories) starting at an origin point called the "root." The following examples show how the path is expressed on a command line in common operating systems.

DOS/Windows
In DOS and Windows, the path to the MYLIFE.TXT file in the STORIES subfolder within the JOE folder on drive C: would be expressed as follows:

    c:\joe\stories\mylife.txt


Unix/Linux/Mac
The equivalent path in Unix, Linux and Mac OS X is as follows. The drive does not show in this path, but it would already have been selected.
    /joe/stories/mylife


Earlier Macs
Prior to Mac OS X, the Mac could also use a path in certain command sequences. The following example uses "hdd200" as the hard drive name:
    hdd200:joe:stories:mylife



The Following Examples
For simplicity, the following examples come from the early Windows version of this encyclopedia when the software was installed as a top-level folder off the root of the C: drive. Subsequent versions are installed in the Program Files folder.


path


Using Paths
In the Windows version of this encyclopedia, there is a dialog box that displays the path to the location of the CDETEXT.TXT file. For more details on the Windows path and folder hierarchy, see Win Folder organization.



path

CDETEXT.TXT Path
This encyclopedia dialog box (File/CDETEXT.TXT path) shows where CDETEXT.TXT is created. The file is used to accumulate definitions so they can be printed at once. For example, you might change this path to your word processing folder.



path

path

File/Folder Hierarchy
These Explorer views of the Encyclopedia folder (CDE) show how the PICTURES subfolder branches off the CDE folder. Just as pictures are kept separate, the lesson lists are also stored in their own subfolder. Note that the ADDRESS bar refers to the path.





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All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
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