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Zeus Tech Note
Path and File Specifications

(This document last revised May 7, 1997, version 0.9)

Copyright © 1996-1997. Zeus Productions. All Rights Reserved.
Written by Bruce A. Epstein

Q. How can I specify a Macintosh PathName?

A. Specifying Macintosh pathNames is easy once you understand the rules.

Macintosh pathNames takes the general form:

hardDriveName:folderName1:folderName2:fileName

Where each item in the path is separated by a colon.

Q. How do Mac and PC file names differ?


A. Those of you familiar with the DOS pathName standards, will notice the following differences:

A. Special Note for Files and Folders on the Desktop:


Files on the Macintosh desktop are referenced using the special reserved term "Desktop Folder" after the drive name and before the remainder of the path.

For example, a file called "myDocument" on the desktop would be referred to as:

MyHD:DeskTop Folder:myDocument

A document within a folder on the desktop is referenced in a similar manner:

MyHD:DeskTop Folder:MyFolder:myDocument

A. Notes about the Desktop Folder:

Q. Are Macintosh file names case sensitive?


A. No. but be careful about extraneous spaces on the line, as file names is "whitespace-sensitive".

Q. Why can my file be found?


A. If your document can not be located when you are specifying a path, likely sources of error include:

A. Trouble-Shooting Macintosh File Paths

A. Trouble-Shooting Windows File Paths

Q. What is a working directory and how do I set one?

A. Many applications assume that the documents and other files that they may require are located in the "working directory". zLaunch allows you to set the working directory for externally launched applications ensuring that all of their components can be found. zLaunch then resets the working directory upon return to Director.


Under Windows 3.1, this would be the same working directory as specified in the properties of the Program Icon associated with the application, if any. To view the properties of a Program Icon , hilight the Program Icon in the Program Manager, and select "Properties" or hit Alt-Enter.

Similarly, under Windows 95, this would be the same working directory as specified in the properties of the shortcut associated with the application, if any. To view the properties of a shortcut, hilight the shortcut, and click on the right mouse button. Then select Properties, and click on the Shortcut tab in the Properties dialog box. The working directory is defined by the "Start in:" field.



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Copyright © 1996-1997. Zeus Productions. All Rights Reserved.