1  Path_name
      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).
    
   
2  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.