Path names are unique designations that identify a dictionary
       directory or object in the dictionary hierarchy.

       The dictionary directory you are assigned as a DEC DATATRIEVE
       user is not a top level directory. CDD$TOP is the name of the
       top level directory in a DMU format dictionary; an anchor like
       MYNODE::SYS$COMMON:[CDDPLUS] is the name of a top level directory
       in a CDO format dictionary. You can trace the parentage of a
       directory or object by:

       o  Joining the given names of directories and objects starting
          with CDD$TOP or the anchor

       o  Including the given names of intermediate directories

       o  Ending with the given name of the target directory or object
          you want to specify

       This path you travel between CDD$TOP or the anchor and a target
       directory or object is called a path name.

       In path names, each given name starts with a letter (A-Z)
       and ends with a letter or digit (0-9). A given name cannot be
       longer than 31 characters and can contain only letters, digits,
       dollar signs ($), and underscores (_). Separate the names of the
       directories and objects in a path name with periods.

       When you start DEC DATATRIEVE, your default directory is set to
       the contents of the logical symbol CDD$DEFAULT. You can change
       your default directory by using the SET DICTIONARY command (see
       HELP SET).

1  –  Examples

       Path names are categorized as one of the following types:

       o  Full, beginning with CDD$TOP or an anchor. For example,
          CDD$TOP.DTR$USERS.BELL might be the full path name
          for the DMU format directory assigned to user Bell.
          MYNODE::DISK$1:[KIRK.DTR]PERSONNEL.SALARIED would be an
          example of a full path name of a CDO format dictionary
          directory. You can see the full path name of the directory
          you are using by entering the SHOW DICTIONARY command.

       o  Relative, beginning with the name of a child of
          your default dictionary directory. For example,
          assume CDD$TOP.DTR$USERS.BELL is user BELL's default
          directory. PERSONNEL is the relative path name
          referring to CDD$TOP.DTR$USERS.BELL.PERSONNEL. If
          your default dictionary directory in a CDO format
          dictionary is MYNODE::DISK$1:[KIRK.DTR]PERSONNEL, then
          SALARIED.EMPLOYEES would be a relative path name referring
          to MYNODE::DISK$1:[KIRK.DTR]PERSONNEL.SALARIED.EMPLOYEES.

       o  Logical, using a name you have defined for a full or relative
          path name. For example, user Bell might define the following
          logical path name:

          $ DEFINE PERS CDD$TOP.DTR$USERS.BELL.PERSONNEL

          Then, within the current process, PERS would be equivalent to
          CDD$TOP.DTR$USERS.BELL.PERSONNEL. You can also define logical
          names for CDO format dictionary path names using the same
          format.