Relative paths

A full path to a file is one which fully and uniquely defines the file's location, e.g. C:\My Documents\Temp.dat or D:\My Documents\Project1\Temp.dat.

A relative path omits the leading drive and (optionally) some or all of the directories preceding the file name, e.g. Temp.dat or Project1\Temp.dat.

A relative path has to be relative to something, and OrcaFlex takes it to be relative to the directory containing the parent file. How this parent is defined depends on the context within which the relative path is used.

For file names in OrcaFlex spreadsheets, the parent file is the spreadsheet file.
For file names in batch script files, the parent file is the batch script file.
For file names used by the custom replay wizard, the parent file is the custom replay file.
For time history file names, external function file names, external tabular current data, external full field wind files, external tabular contents data, post calculation action scripts, user defined results scripts, SHEAR7 file names, VIVA file names and imported 3D models for shaded graphics, the parent file is the latest file (.dat, .yml or .sim) that you have opened or saved to.
For load case file names in a fatigue analysis, the parent file is the latest .ftg file that you have opened or saved to.
For functional load case file names in an OrcaFlex model, the parent file is the OrcaFlex model file.
For file names in a text data file, the parent file is the text data file.
For file names in a list of batch files, the parent file is the list file.

If the parent file is undefined (such as with a new model or fatigue analysis which has not yet been saved), OrcaFlex uses the Windows working directory when OrcaFlex was started. In all other cases OrcaFlex uses the working directory.

Relative paths are usually more convenient than full paths. For example, if all the files referred to in a batch script file are placed in (or below) the same directory as that script file, then using relative paths means that the script file will still work if you rename the directory or copy it to another location.